Proton-Emission Resonance Levels in 11B

A narrow near-threshold proton resonance in 11B was proposed near E_x=11.44 MeV to explain the branching ratio discrepancy of 11Be→10Be. The proton resonance was thought to enhance the beta-delayed proton emission in 11Be and leads to a larger than expected decay branch to 10Be. The reaction 7Li(alpha,p)10Be was performed using the FN accelerator at ISNAP in the University of Notre Dame to search for the resonance. A range of energies were tested with a focus on the hypothetical excitation value. After the conclusion of the experiment and analysis of the data, there seems to be no resonance level at the indicated value nor any other unknown resonance in the aforementioned energy range though there were unreported triton decays found at higher energies. A more thorough study of the alpha angular distribution or an approach that would detect a proton resonance width only would be of benefit to this decay. Otherwise, the 11Be→10Be decay would require some form of exotic decay to explain it and with it comes the potential for new physics.