0000000000393837
AUTHOR
P. Hosmer
Low-lying level structure of Cu56 and its implications for the rp process
The low-lying energy levels of proton-rich Cu56 have been extracted using in-beam γ-ray spectroscopy with the state-of-the-art γ-ray tracking array GRETINA in conjunction with the S800 spectrograph at the National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory at Michigan State University. Excited states in Cu56 serve as resonances in the Ni55(p,γ)Cu56 reaction, which is a part of the rp process in type-I x-ray bursts. To resolve existing ambiguities in the reaction Q value, a more localized isobaric multiplet mass equation (IMME) fit is used, resulting in Q=639±82 keV. We derive the first experimentally constrained thermonuclear reaction rate for Ni55(p,γ)Cu56. We find that, with this new rate, the …
β-decay measurements ofA≃ 70 − 110 r-process nuclei at the National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory
The present paper reports on several r-process motivated β-decay experiments undertaken at the National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory. β-decay half-lives and β-delayed neutron-emission probabilities were measured for nuclei around the r-process A = 70–80 and A = 90 – 110 mass regions. The data are discussed on the basis of quasi-random phase approximation calculations. The emphasis is made on the impact of these data upon calculations of r-process abundances.
Radioactive ion beams in the region of 100Sn and 78Ni at the NSCL
The regions around the doubly magic nuclei 100 Sn and 78 Ni are of great interest from a nuclear structure standpoint. These nuclei also play a key role in the astrophysical rp- and r-processes, respectively. Recently, nuclei in these regions were studied at the Coupled Cyclotron Facility at the National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory (NSCL) at Michigan State University.
β-decay studies of r-process nuclei at NSCL
Abstract Observed neutron-capture elemental abundances in metal-poor stars, along with ongoing analysis of the extremely metal-poor Eu-enriched sub-class provide new guidance for astrophysical models aimed at finding the r-process sites. The present paper emphasizes the importance of nuclear physics parameters entering in these models, particularly β -decay properties of neutron-rich nuclei. In this context, several r-process motivated β -decay experiments performed at the National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory (NSCL) are presented, including a summary of results and impact on model calculations.
β-Decay Studies Close to the N=82 r-process Path
New half-lives for neutron-rich ruthenium, rhodium and palladium isotopes close to the r-process path along the N=82 closed shell have been measured at the National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory at Michigan State University. The studied isotopes are close to the critical A=118-126 mass region in the astrophysical r-process, where incorrect nuclear structure development towards the shell closure may have the most pronounced effect on the abundances of elements produced. Neutron-rich nuclei were produced by fragmentation of a 120-MeV per nucleon 136 Xe beam on Be and were separated by the A1900 fragment separator. The nuclei of interest were implanted into a double-sided Si strip detec…
The neutron long counter NERO for studies of neutron emission in the r-process
Abstract The neutron long counter NERO was built at the National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory (NSCL), Michigan State University, for measuring β -delayed neutron-emission probabilities. The detector was designed to work in conjunction with a β -delay implantation station, so that β decays and β -delayed neutrons emitted from implanted nuclei can be measured simultaneously. The high efficiency of about 40%, for the range of energies of interest, along with the small background, are crucial for measuring β -delayed neutron emission branchings for neutron-rich r-process nuclei produced as low intensity fragmentation beams in in-flight separator facilities.
Determining therp-Process Flow throughNi56: Resonances inCu57(p,γ)Zn58Identified with GRETINA
An approach is presented to experimentally constrain previously unreachable (p, γ) reaction rates on nuclei far from stability in the astrophysical rp process. Energies of all critical resonances in the (57)Cu(p,γ)(58)Zn reaction are deduced by populating states in (58)Zn with a (d, n) reaction in inverse kinematics at 75 MeV/u, and detecting γ-ray-recoil coincidences with the state-of-the-art γ-ray tracking array GRETINA and the S800 spectrograph at the National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory. The results reduce the uncertainty in the (57)Cu(p,γ) reaction rate by several orders of magnitude. The effective lifetime of (56)Ni, an important waiting point in the rp process in x-ray burst…
Half-Life of the Doubly Magicr-Process NucleusN78i
Nuclei with magic numbers serve as important benchmarks in nuclear theory. In addition, neutron-rich nuclei play an important role in the astrophysical rapid neutron-capture process (r process). 78Ni is the only doubly magic nucleus that is also an important waiting point in the r process, and serves as a major bottleneck in the synthesis of heavier elements. The half-life of 78Ni has been experimentally deduced for the first time at the Coupled Cyclotron Facility of the National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory at Michigan State University, and was found to be 110(+100)(-60) ms. In the same experiment, a first half-life was deduced for 77Ni of 128(+27)(-33) ms, and more precise half-li…