Novel technique for constraining r-process (n,γ\gamma) reaction rates

A novel technique has been developed, which will open exciting new opportunities for studying the very neutron-rich nuclei involved in the r-process. As a proof-of-principle, the $\gamma$-spectra from the $\beta$-decay of $^{76}$Ga have been measured with the SuN detector at the National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory. The nuclear level density and $\gamma$-ray strength function are extracted and used as input to Hauser-Feshbach calculations. The present technique is shown to strongly constrain the $^{75}$Ge($n,\gamma$)$^{76}$Ge cross section and reaction rate.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figure

Enhanced low-energy γ\gamma-decay strength of 70^{70}Ni and its robustness within the shell model

Neutron-capture reactions on very neutron-rich nuclei are essential for heavy-element nucleosynthesis through the rapid neutron-capture process, now shown to take place in neutron-star merger events. For these exotic nuclei, radiative neutron capture is extremely sensitive to their $\gamma$-emission probability at very low $\gamma$ energies. In this work, we present measurements of the $\gamma$-decay strength of $^{70}$Ni over the wide range $1.3 \leq E_{\gamma} \leq 8$ MeV. A significant enhancement is found in the $\gamma$-decay strength for transitions with $E_\gamma < 3$ MeV. At present, this is the most neutron-rich nucleus displaying this feature, proving that this phenomenon is not restricted to stable nuclei. We have performed $E1$-strength calculations within the quasiparticle time-blocking approximation, which describe our data above $E_\gamma \simeq 5$ MeV very well. Moreover, large-scale shell-model calculations indicate an $M1$ nature of the low-energy $\gamma$ strength. This turns out to be remarkably robust with respect to the choice of interaction, truncation and model space, and we predict its presence in the whole isotopic chain, in particular the neutron-rich $^{72,74,76}\mathrm{Ni}$.Comment: 9 pages, 9 figure

Measurement of the 58Ni(α, γ) 62Zn reaction and its astrophysical impact

Funding Details: PHY 08-22648, NSF, National Science Foundation; PHY 0969058, NSF, National Science Foundation; PHY 1102511, NSF, National Science FoundationCross section measurements of the 58Ni(α,γ)62Zn reaction were performed in the energy range Eα=5.5to9.5 MeV at the Nuclear Science Laboratory of the University of Notre Dame, using the NSCL Summing NaI(Tl) detector and the γ-summing technique. The measurements are compared to predictions in the statistical Hauser-Feshbach model of nuclear reactions using the SMARAGD code. It is found that the energy dependence of the cross section is reproduced well but the absolute value is overestimated by the prediction. This can be remedied by rescaling the α width by a factor of 0.45. Stellar reactivities were calculated with the rescaled α width and their impact on nucleosynthesis in type Ia supernovae has been studied. It is found that the resulting abundances change by up to 5% when using the new reactivities. © 2014 American Physical Society.Peer reviewe

β-decay Half-lives of Neutron-rich Nuclides in the A = 100 – 110 Mass Region

β-decay half-lives of neutron-rich nuclides in the A = 100–110 mass region have been measured using an implantation station installed inside of the Summing NaI(Tl) (SuN) detector at the National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory. Accurate half-lives for these nuclides are important for nuclear astrophysics, nuclear structure, and nuclear technology. The half-lives from the present work are compared with previous measurements, showing overall good agreement

Interrogating violence against women and state violence policy: Gendered intersectionalities and the quality of policy in The Netherlands, Sweden and the Uk

This article builds on feminist scholarship on intersectionality to address violence against women, and state policy thereon. It takes up the challenge of analysing the complex, situated and spatial relationship between theorizing on violence against women and state policy on such violence. Drawing on extensive comparative European data, it explores the relations of gender and intersectionality, conceptualized as gendered intersectionalities, by examining how multiple inequalities are made visible and invisible in state policy and debates in the Netherlands, Sweden and the UK. Attention is paid to different forms of gendered intersectionalities in policy, for example, tendencies to degender violence against women. A key aim of the article is to investigate how comparative analysis can be a starting point for assessing if, how and to what extent the inclusion of multiple inequalities could increase the quality of policy, for both reducing and stopping violence, and assisting those subject to violence

Isovector excitations in Nb-100 and their decays by neutron emission studied via the Mo-100(t, He-3 + n) reaction at 115 MeV/u

Spin–isospin excitations in Nb100 were studied via the Mo100(t,He3) charge-exchange reaction at 115 MeV/u with the goal to constrain theoretical models used to describe the isovector spin response of nuclei. The experiment was performed with a secondary beam of tritons, and 3He particles were analyzed in the S800 magnetic spectrometer. Decay by neutron emission from excited states in Nb100 was observed by using plastic and liquid scintillator arrays. Differential cross sections were analyzed and monopole excitations were revealed by using a multipole decomposition analysis. The Gamow–Teller transition strength observed at low excitation energies, which is important for estimating the electron-capture rate in astrophysical scenarios, was strongly fragmented and reduced compared to single-particle and spherical mean-field models. The consideration of deformation in the theoretical estimates was found to be important to better describe the fragmentation and strengths. A strong excitation of the isovector spin giant monopole resonance was observed, and well reproduced by the mean-field models. Its presence makes the extraction of Gamow–Teller strengths at high excitation energies difficult. The branches for statistical and direct decay by neutron emission were identified in the spectra. The upper limit for the branching ratio by direct decay (integrated over all observed excitations) was determined to be 20±6%. Even though the statistical uncertainties in the neutron-coincident data were too large to perform detailed studies of the decay by neutron emission from individual states and resonances, the experiment demonstrates the feasibility of the method

SuNSCREEN: A cosmic-ray veto detector for capture-reaction measurements

The Summing Nal(TI) detector (SuN) is used in nuclear astrophysics experiments measuring (p,gamma) and (alpha,gamma) reactions. The main background in these experiments in the energy region of interest comes from cosmic rays. The Scintillating Cosmic Ray Eliminating Ensemble (SuNSCREEN) was developed to be combined with the SuN detector to increase the sensitivity of reaction cross-section measurements by reducing the cosmicray background. SuNSCREEN is a plastic scintillating array consisting of 9 bars, which are positioned in a roof-like configuration above SuN. A significant reduction of the background was observed in the energy region of interest. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

Measurement of the 90,92Zr(p,γ)91,93Nb reactions for the nucleosynthesis of elements near A=90

Cross section measurements of the reactions 90,92Zr(p,γ) 91,93Nb were performed using the National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory Summing NaI(Tl) detector at the University of Notre Dame. These reactions are part of the nuclear reaction flow for the synthesis of the light p nuclei. For the 90Zr(p,γ)91Nb reaction the new measurement resolves the disagreement between previous results. For the 92Zr(p,γ)93Nb reaction the present work reports the first measurement of this reaction cross section. Both reaction cross sections are compared to theoretical calculations and a very good agreement with the standard NON-SMOKER model is observed.Peer reviewedFinal Accepted Versio