491 research outputs found
Neutron activation of natural zinc samples at kT = 25 keV
The neutron-capture cross sections of 64Zn, 68Zn, and 70Zn have been measured
with the activation technique in a quasistellar neutron spectrum corresponding
to a thermal energy of kT = 25 keV. By a series of repeated irradiations with
different experimental conditions, an uncertainty of 3% could be achieved for
the 64Zn(n,g)65Zn cross section and for the partial cross section
68Zn(n,g)69Zn-m feeding the isomeric state in 69Zn. For the partial cross
sections 70Zn(n,g)71Zn-m and 70Zn(n,g)71Zn-g, which had not been measured so
far, uncertainties of only 16% and 6% could be reached because of limited
counting statistics and decay intensities. Compared to previous measurements on
64,68Zn, the uncertainties could be significantly improved, while the 70Zn
cross section was found to be two times smaller than existing model
calculations. From these results Maxwellian average cross sections were
determined between 5 and 100 keV. Additionally, the beta-decay half-life of
71Zn-m could be determined with significantly improved accuracy. The
consequences of these data have been studied by network calculations for
convective core He burning and convective shell C burning in massive stars
Planetary benchmarks
Design criteria and technology requirements for a system of radar reference devices to be fixed to the surfaces of the inner planets are discussed. Offshoot applications include the use of radar corner reflectors as landing beacons on the planetary surfaces and some deep space applications that may yield a greatly enhanced knowledge of the gravitational and electromagnetic structure of the solar system. Passive retroreflectors with dimensions of about 4 meters and weighing about 10 kg are feasible for use with orbiting radar at Venus and Mars. Earth-based observation of passive reflectors, however, would require very large and complex structures to be delivered to the surfaces. For Earth-based measurements, surface transponders offer a distinct advantage in accuracy over passive reflectors. A conceptual design for a high temperature transponder is presented. The design appears feasible for the Venus surface using existing electronics and power components
Re(\gamm,n) cross section close to and above the neutron threshold
The neutron capture cross section of the unstable nucleus Re is
studied by investigating the inverse photodisintegration reaction
Re(,n). The special interest of the {\it s}-process branching
point Re is related to the question of possible {\it s}-process
contributions to the abundance of the {\it r}-process chronometer nucleus
^{187}^{186}\gamma^{186}$Os; the two predicted neutron-capture cross sections
differ by a factor of 2.4; this calls for future theoretical study.Comment: Phys. Rev. C, in pres
Fragmentation and systematics of the Pygmy Dipole Resonance in the stable N=82 isotones
The low-lying electric dipole (E1) strength in the semi-magic nucleus 136Xe
has been measured which finalizes the systematic survey to investigate the
so-called pygmy dipole resonance (PDR) in all stable even N=82 isotones with
the method of nuclear resonance fluorescence using real photons in the entrance
channel. In all cases, a fragmented resonance-like structure of E1 strength is
observed in the energy region 5 MeV to 8 MeV. An analysis of the fragmentation
of the strength reveals that the degree of fragmentation decreases towards the
proton-deficient isotones while the total integrated strength increases
indicating a dependence of the total strength on the neutron-to-proton ratio.
The experimental results are compared to microscopic calculations within the
quasi-particle phonon model (QPM). The calculation includes complex
configurations of up to three phonons and is able to reproduce also the
fragmentation of the E1 strength which allows to draw conclusions on the
damping of the PDR. Calculations and experimental data are in good agreement in
the degree of fragmentation and also in the integrated strength if the
sensitivity limit of the experiments is taken into account
Experimental cross sections of Ho 165 (α,n) Tm 168 and Er 166 (α,n) Yb 169 for optical potential studies relevant for the astrophysical γ process
Background: Optical potentials are crucial ingredients for the prediction of nuclear reaction rates needed in simulations of the astrophysical γ process. Associated uncertainties are particularly large for reactions involving α particles. This includes (γ,α) reactions which are of special importance in the γ process. Purpose: The measurement of (α,n) reactions allows for an optimization of currently used α-nucleus potentials. The reactions Ho165(α,n) and Er166(α,n) probe the optical model in a mass region where γ process calculations exhibit an underproduction of p nuclei which is not yet understood. Method: To investigate the energy-dependent cross sections of the reactions Ho165(α,n) and Er166(α,n) close to the reaction threshold, self-supporting metallic foils were irradiated with α particles using the FN tandem Van de Graaff accelerator at the University of Notre Dame. The induced activity was determined afterwards by monitoring the specific β-decay channels. Results: Hauser-Feshbach predictions with a widely used global α potential describe the data well at energies where the cross sections are almost exclusively sensitive to the α widths. Increasing discrepancies appear towards the reaction threshold at lower energy. Conclusions: The tested global α potential is suitable at energies above 14 MeV, while a modification seems necessary close to the reaction threshold. Since the γ and neutron widths show non-negligible impact on the predictions, complementary data are required to judge whether or not the discrepancies found can be solely assigned to the α width. © 2014 American Physical Society.Peer reviewedFinal Accepted Versio
High precision Y(,)Y scattering at low energies
Elastic scattering cross sections of the Y(,)Y
reaction have been measured at energies E = 15.51 and 18.63 MeV. The
high precision data for the semi-magic nucleus Y are used to
derive a local potential and to evaluate the predictions of global and regional
-nucleus potentials. The variation of the elastic alpha scattering
cross sections along the isotonic chain is investigated by a study of
the ratios of angular distributions for Y(,)Y and
Mo(,)Mo at E 15.51 and 18.63
MeV. This ratio is a very sensitive probe at energies close to the Coulomb
barrier, where scattering data alone is usually not enough to characterize the
different potentials. Furthermore, -cluster states in Nb =
Y are investigated
Cross-section measurement of the Ba 130 (p,γ) La 131 reaction for γ -process nucleosynthesis
Background: Deviations between experimental data of charged-particle-induced reactions and calculations within the statistical model are frequently found. An extended data base is needed to address the uncertainties regarding the nuclear-physics input parameters in order to understand the nucleosynthesis of the neutron-deficient p nuclei. Purpose: A measurement of total cross-section values of the Ba130(p,γ)La131 reaction at low proton energies allows a stringent test of statistical model predictions with different proton+nucleus optical model potentials. Since no experimental data are available for proton-capture reactions in this mass region around A ≈130, this measurement can be an important input to test the global applicability of proton+nucleus optical model potentials. Method: The total reaction cross-section values were measured by means of the activation method. After the irradiation with protons, the reaction yield was determined by use of γ-ray spectroscopy using two clover-type high-purity germanium detectors. In total, cross-section values for eight different proton energies could be determined in the energy range between 3.6 MeV ≤Ep≤ 5.0 MeV, thus, inside the astrophysically relevant energy region. Results: The measured cross-section values were compared to Hauser-Feshbach calculations using the statistical model codes TALYS and SMARAGD with different proton+nucleus optical model potentials. With the semimicroscopic JLM proton+nucleus optical model potential used in the SMARAGD code, the absolute cross-section values are reproduced well, but the energy dependence is too steep at the lowest energies. The best description is given by a TALYS calculation using the semimicroscopic Bauge proton+nucleus optical model potential using a constant renormalization factor. Conclusions: The statistical model calculation using the Bauge semimicroscopic proton+nucleus optical model potential deviates by a constant factor of 2.1 from the experimental data. Using this model, an experimentally supported stellar reaction rate for proton capture on the p nucleus Ba130 was calculated. At astrophysical temperatures, an increase in the stellar reaction rate of 68% compared to rates obtained from the widely used NON-SMOKER code is found. This measurement extends the scarce experimental data base for charged-particle-induced reactions, which can be helpful to derive a more globally applicable proton+nucleus optical model potential.Peer reviewedFinal Accepted Versio
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
- …