Reaction cross sections of intermediate energy He-3-particles on targets from Be-9 to Pb-208

Reaction cross sections for He-3-particles have been measured for Be-9, C-1 2, O-16, Si-28, Ca-40, Ni-58,Ni-60, Sn-112,Sn-116,Sn-118,Sn-120,Sn-124, and Pb-208 at 96, 138 and 167 MeV. The results are compared with predictions f rom optical model calculations using phenomenological and global optical po tentials. The behaviour of the wavefunctions and of the contributions to th e reaction cross sections from different regions in the nucleus is investig ated. Comparisons are also made with results for alpha -particles obtained in the same energy region. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserv ed.