Determining the <sup>68</sup>Zn(n,γ) cross section with DANCE

ORAL

Abstract

Constraining neutron capture rate uncertainties is essential to understanding s-process nucleosynthesis. Due to its relatively low (∼20 mb) neutron capture cross section, 68Zn acts as a bottleneck in the weak s-process chain, which primarily takes place in massive stars. Sensitivity studies have shown that uncertainties in the 68Zn neutron capture cross section are propagated downstream to heavier s-process products up to A≈90. Tο work towards reducing these uncertainties, the 68Zn(n,γ) reaction cross section was measured from neutron energies of 0.1 keV to 1 MeV with the Detector for Advanced Neutron Capture Experiments (DANCE) at the Los Alamos Neutron Science Center. This presentation will discuss determination of the efficiency of DANCE for this reaction, comparisons of experimental data to simulation, and preliminary cross section results.

*This work was supported by the DOE-NNSA under grant number DE-NA0004076 and the Czech Science Foundation under grant number 23-06439S.

–

Presenters

  • Miriam Matney

    • University of Notre Dame

Authors

  • Miriam Matney

    • University of Notre Dame

  • Aaron J Couture

    • Los Alamos National Laboratory
    • Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL)

  • Anna Simon

    • University of Notre Dame

  • Jeff C Blackmon

    • Louisiana State University

  • Ingrid Knapova

    • Los Alamos National Laboratory

  • Milan Krtička

    • Charles University

  • Esther L Leal-Cidoncha

    • Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL)

  • K T Macon

    • Louisiana State University
    • University of Notre Dame

  • Shea Mosby

    • Los Alamos Natl Lab
    • Los Alamos National Laboratory

  • Christopher Prokop

    • Los Alamos National Laboratory

  • Stanislav Valenta

    • Charles University