Evidence of an excited state in the alpha-particle

It has been shown (1) that lithium bombarded with protons gives rise to a gamma-ray of about 12 m.e.v. and probably a second gamma-ray of about 4 m.e.v. energy. The 12 m.e.v. component we ascribe to the process 3Li7+1H1→2 2He4 because this appears to be the only reaction involving lithium and protons in which sufficient energy is released.