Publications

Precise measurement of the thermal and stellar Fe 54 (n,γ) Fe 55 cross sections via accelerator mass spectrometry

Author(s)
A. Wallner, K. Buczak, Tamás Belgya, M. Bichler, L Coquard, I Dillmann, R. Golser, F. Kaeppeler, A. Karakas, W. Kutschera, C. Lederer, Alberto Mengoni, M Pignatari, A. Priller, Rene Reifarth, P. Steier, L. Szentmiklosi
Abstract

Accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) represents a complementary approach for precise measurements of neutron capture cross sections, e.g., for nuclear astrophysics. This technique, completely independent of previous experimental methods, was applied for the measurement of the Fe54(n,γ)Fe55 reaction. Following a series of irradiations with neutrons from cold and thermal to keV energies, the produced long-lived Fe55 nuclei (t1/2=2.744+-0.009) yr) were analyzed at the Vienna Environmental Research Accelerator. A reproducibility of about 1% could be achieved for the detection of Fe55, yielding cross-section uncertainties of less than 3%. Thus, this method produces new and precise data that can serve as anchor points for time-of-flight experiments. We report significantly improved neutron capture cross sections at thermal energy (σth=2.30±0.07 b) as well as for a quasi-Maxwellian spectrum of kT=25 keV (σ=30.3±1.2 mb) and for En=481±53 keV (σ=6.01±0.23 mb). The new experimental cross sections have been used to deduce improved Maxwellian-averaged cross sections in the temperature regime of the common s-process scenarios. The astrophysical impact is discussed by using stellar models for low-mass asymptotic giant branch stars.

Organisation(s)
Isotope Physics
External organisation(s)
Australian National University, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Technische Universität Wien, Karlsruher Institut für Technologie, TRIUMF, Monash University, University of Edinburgh, European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN), University of Hull, Johann Wolfgang Goethe-Universität Frankfurt am Main
Journal
Physical Review C
Volume
96
No. of pages
13
ISSN
0556-2813
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevC.96.025808
Publication date
08-2017
Peer reviewed
Yes
Austrian Fields of Science 2012
103014 Nuclear physics, 103004 Astrophysics
Keywords
Portal url
https://ucris.univie.ac.at/portal/en/publications/precise-measurement-of-the-thermal-and-stellar-fe-54-n-fe-55-cross-sections-via-accelerator-mass-spectrometry(80bab83d-3ac7-4062-baed-d8ecfe2f34ce).html