0000000001172951
AUTHOR
Jon Billowes
Recent results in nuclear astrophysics at the n_TOF facility at CERN
The neutron time of flight (n_TOF) facility at CERN is a spallation source characterized by a white neutron spectrum. The innovative features of the facility, in the two experimental areas, (20 m and 185 m), allow for an accurate determination of the neutron cross section for radioactive samples or for isotopes with small neutron capture cross section, of interest for Nuclear Astrophysics. The recent results obtained at n_TOF facility are presented.
Measurement of the U 238 (n,γ) cross section up to 80 keV with the total absorption calorimeter at the CERN n-TOF facility
The radiative capture cross section of a highly pure (99.999%), 6.125(2) grams and 9.56(5)× 10−4 atoms/barn areal density 238U sample has been measured with the Total Absorption Calorimeter (TAC) in the 185 m flight path at the CERN neutron time-of-flight facility n_TOF. This measurement is in response to the NEA High Priority Request list, which demands an accuracy in this cross section of less than 3% below 25 keV. These data have undergone careful background subtraction, with special care being given to the background originating from neutrons scattered by the 238U sample. Pileup and dead-time effects have been corrected for. The measured cross section covers an energy range between 0.2 …