Benchmarking the extraction of statistical neutron capture cross sections on short-lived nuclei for applications using the β -Oslo method
Year: 2019
Type: article
Abstract: Numerous scientific fields including astrophysics, nuclear power, and nuclear forensics require a knowledge of basic nuclear properties for large numbers of short-lived, radioactive isotopes far removed from stable nuclei. Neutron-capture cross sections are one such piece of nuclear data where direct measurements are not possible and theoretical predictions can vary by orders of magnitude. A recently developed indirect technique for inferring neutron capture rates, the $\ensuremath{\beta}$-Oslo method, has been introduced but not compared against a known, directly measured neutron capture cross section. To provide this benchmark, two indirect methods based on $\ensuremath{\beta}$ decay and charged-particle reactions were used to extract the nuclear level density and $\ensuremath{\gamma}$-ray strength function of $^{51}\mathrm{Ti}$. The nuclear level density and $\ensuremath{\gamma}$-ray strength function from the two data sets were found to be equivalent and were used to extract the neutron capture cross section of $^{50}\mathrm{Ti}$ which agrees with previous direct measurements at high neutron energies. The results demonstrate the validity of the $\ensuremath{\beta}$-Oslo method for extracting neutron capture cross sections of short-lived nuclei and provide a sufficiently small uncertainty to be used in various applications.
Source: Physical Review C
Authors: S. N. Liddick, A. C. Larsen, M. Guttormsen, A. Spyrou, B. P. Crider, F. Naqvi, J. E. Midtbø, F. L. Bello Garrote, D. L. Bleuel, L. Crespo Campo, A. Couture, A. C. Dombos, F. Giacoppo, A. Görgen, K. Hadynska-Klek, T. W. Hagen, V. W. Ingeberg, B. V. Kheswa, R. Lewis, S. Mosby, G. Perdikakis, C. J. Prokop, S. J. Quinn, T. Renstrøm, S. J. Rose, E. Sahin, S. Siem, G. M. Tveten, M. Wiedeking, F. Zeiser
Institutions: National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory, Michigan State University, University of Oslo, Joint Institute for Nuclear Astrophysics, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Los Alamos National Laboratory, GSI Helmholtz Centre for Heavy Ion Research, Helmholtz Institute Mainz, iThemba Laboratory, Central Michigan University
Language: English
Subfield: Nuclear and High Energy Physics
Field: Physics and Astronomy
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: bronze
Funders: National Science Foundation, U.S. Department of Energy, Michigan State University, Central Michigan University, Joint Institute for Nuclear Astrophysics - Center for the Evolution of the Elements, European Cooperation in Science and Technology, National Research Foundation, Norges Forskningsråd, National Nuclear Security Administration, College of Engineering, Michigan State University, European Research Council, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
Awards: JINA Center for the Evolution of the Elements, G1088636562, G1356433355, G14554683, G2145270357, G217780377, NEUTRON CAPTURE CROSS SECTION MEASUREMENTS ON SHORT-LIVED ISOTOPES, G3386529465, Nuclear Structure and Nuclear Astrophysics, G3769890331, G3937274832, Operation of the NSCL as a National User Facilty & Research Program, NUCLEAR SCIENCE & SECURITY CONSORTIUM (NNSC), G4248083046, PFC: Joint Institute for Nuclear Astrophysics, JINA, NEUTRINO AND NUCLEAR PHYSICS OF HEAVY ELEMENT SYNTHESIS, G4564087854, CAREER:beta-decay experiments to constrain astrophysical processes, G5013476584, G5281192188, G5521888893, G5627316110, G6137584866, NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING NONPROLIFERATION RESEARCH CONSORTIUM, G6671297155, G6722521933, G759626400, G765874931, G897983379, G8983960184, G991281326
OpenAlex ID: W2970054577