Exotic Properties of Light Nuclei and their Neutron Capture Cross Sections

We have investigated the implications of the neutron halo configuration, observed in the ground-state of some neutron-rich light nuclei, on neutron radiative transition processes. In particular, we have studied the influence of the neutron halo on the direct radiative capture (DRC) process. The energy dependence as well as the strength of E1 emission due to incident p-wave neutrons is strongly influenced by the halo configuration of the residual nucleus capturing state. We have compared the calculated 10Be(n,gamma)11Be DRC cross section with that derived from the experiment in the inverse kinematics (Coulomb dissociation of 11Be). We show from the comparison that some important information on the structure of the halo nucleus 11Be can be derived.Comment: Contribution to the 4th International Seminar on Interaction of Neutrons with Nuclei, Dubna (Russia), April 199

Stellar neutron capture cross sections of ⁴¹K and ⁴⁵Sc

The neutron capture cross sections of light nuclei (

Stellar (n,γ) cross sections of ²³Na

The cross section of the ²³Na(n,γ)²⁴Na reaction has been measured via the activation method at the Karlsruhe 3.7 MV Van de Graaff accelerator. NaCl samples were exposed to quasistellar neutron spectra at kT = 5.1 and 25 keV produced via the ¹⁸O(p,n)¹⁸F and ⁷Li(p,n)⁷Be reactions, respectively. The derived capture cross sections (σ)kT=5keV = 9.1 ± 0.3mb and (σ)kT=25keV = 2.03 ± 0.05 mb are significantly lower than reported in literature. These results were used to substantially revise the radiative width of the first ²³Na resonance and to establish an improved set of Maxwellian average cross sections. The implications of the lower capture cross section for current models of s-process nucleosynthesis are discussed

Modelling the failure precursor mechanism of lamellar fibrous tissues, example of the annulus fibrosus

The aims of this study were to assess the damage and failure strengths of lamellar fibrous tissues, such as the anterior annulus fibrosus (AF), and to develop a mathematical model of damage propagation of the lamellae and inter-lamellar connections. This level of modelling is needed to accurately predict the effect of damage and failure induced by trauma or clinical interventions. 26 ovine anterior AF cuboid specimens from 11 lumbar intervertebral discs were tested in radial tension and mechanical parameters defining damage and failure were extracted from the in-vitro data. Equivalent 1D analytical models were developed to represent the specimen strength and the damage propagation, accounting for the specimen dimensions and number of lamellae. Model parameters were calibrated on the in-vitro data. Similar to stiffness values reported for other orientations, the outer annulus was found stronger than the inner annulus in the radial direction, with failure at higher stress values. The inner annulus failed more progressively, showing macroscopic failure at a higher strain value. The 1D analytical model of damage showed that lamellar damage is predominant in the failure mechanism of the AF. The analytical model of the connections between lamellae allowed us to represent separately damage processes in the lamellae and the inter-lamellar connections, which cannot be experimentally tested individually

The s-process branching at 185W

The neutron capture cross section of the unstable nucleus 185W has been derived from experimental photoactivation data of the inverse reaction 186W(gamma,n)185W. The new result of sigma = (687 +- 110) mbarn confirms the theoretically predicted neutron capture cross section of 185W of sigma = 700 mbarn at kT = 30 keV. A neutron density in the classical s-process of n_n = (3.8 +0.9 -0.8} * 1e8 cm-3 is derived from the new data for the 185W branching. In a stellar s-process model one finds a significant overproduction of the residual s-only nucleus 186Os.Comment: ApJ, in pres

Cloning method for taxonomic interpretation of T-RFLP patterns.

n/

Tuning the Re/Os Clock: Stellar-Neutron Cross Sections

The neutron-capture cross sections of 186,187Os have been recently measured at the CERN neutron time-of-flight facility n_TOF for an improved evaluation of the Re/Os cosmo-chronometer. This experimental information was complemented by nuclear model calculations for obtaining the proper astrophysical reaction rates at s-process temperatures. The calculated results and their implications for the determination of the time-duration of nucleosynthesis during galactic chemical evolution is discusse