Search results for "nuclear astrophysics"
showing 10 items of 63 documents
Neutron capture cross section measurements for nuclear astrophyisics at CERN n_TOF
2005
A series of neutron capture cross section measurements of interest to nuclear astrophysics have been recently performed at n_TOF, the neutron spallation source operating at CERN. The low repetition frequency of the proton beam driver, the extremely high instantaneous neutron flux, and the low background conditions in the experimental area are optimal for capture cross section measurements on low-mass or radioactive samples. An overview of the measurements performed during the two experimental campaigns in 2002 and 2003 is presented with special emphasis on the measurement of the capture cross sections of the Os isotopes relevant for the cosmochronology based on the Re/Os clock. http://www.s…
Neutron measurements for advanced nuclear systems: The n_TOF project at CERN
2012
A few years ago, the neutron time-of-flight facility n_TOF was built at CERN to address some of the urgent needs of high-accuracy nuclear data for Accelerator Driven Systems and other advanced nuclear energy systems, as well as for nuclear astrophysics and fundamental nuclear physics. Thanks to the characteristics of the neutron beam, and to state-of-the-art detection and acquisition systems, high quality neutron cross-section data have been obtained for a variety of isotopes, many of which radioactive. Following an important upgrade of the spallation target and of the experimental area, a new measurement campaign has started last year. After a brief review of the most important results obt…
Four-neutrino oscillations at SNO
2000
We discuss the potential of SNO to constraint the four-neutrino mixing schemes favoured by the results of all neutrino oscillations experiments. These schemes allow simultaneous transitions of solar $\nu_e's$ into active $\nu_\mu$'s, $\nu_\tau$'s and sterile $\nu_s$ controlled by the additional parameter $\cos^2(\vartheta_{23}) \cos^2(\vartheta_{24})$ and they contain as limiting cases the pure $\nu_e$-active and $\nu_e$-sterile neutrino oscillations. We first obtain the solutions allowed by the existing data in the framework of the BP00 standard solar model and quantify the corresponding predictions for the CC and the NC/CC event ratios at SNO for the different allowed regions as a functio…
Seasonal dependence in the solar neutrino flux
1999
MSW solutions of the solar neutrino problem predict a seasonal dependence of the zenith angle distribution of the event rates, due to the non-zero latitude at the Super-Kamiokande site. We calculate this seasonal dependence and compare it with the expectations in the no-oscillation case as well as just-so scenario, in the light of the latest Super-Kamiokande 708-day data. The seasonal dependence can be sizeable in the large mixing angle MSW solution and would be correlated with the day-night effect. This may be used to discriminate between MSW and just-so scenarios and should be taken into account in refined fits of the data.
Zenith angle distributions at Super-Kamiokande and SNO and the solution of the solar neutrino problem
2000
We have performed a detailed study of the zenith angle dependence of the regeneration factor and distributions of events at SNO and SK for different solutions of the solar neutrino problem. In particular, we discuss oscillatory behaviour and the synchronization effect in the distribution for the LMA solution, the parametric peak for the LOW solution, etc.. Physical interpretation of the effects is given. We suggest a new binning of events which emphasizes distinctive features of zenith angle distributions for the different solutions. We also find the correlations between the integrated day-night asymmetry and the rates of events in different zenith angle bins. Study of these correlations st…
High-accuracy mass spectrometry of fission products with Penning traps
2012
Mass measurements of fission products based on Penning-trap technique are reviewed in this article. More than 300 fission products have been measured with JYFLTRAP, ISOLTRAP, CPT, LEBIT and TITAN Penning traps with a typical precision of δm/m ≈ 10−7 − 10−8. In general, the results agree well with each other. The new data provide a valuable source of information and a challenge for the future development of theoretical mass models as well as for obtaining a deeper insight into microscopic properties of atomic nuclei as measured, for example, via key mass differentials. Shape transitions around N = 60, subshell closure at N = 40 and shell closures at N = 50 and N = 82 have been investigated i…
Size of the dark side of the solar neutrino parameter space
2000
We present an analysis of the MSW neutrino oscillation solutions of the solar neutrino problem in the framework of two-neutrino mixing in the enlarged parameter space $(\ensuremath{\Delta}{m}^{2},{\mathrm{tan}}^{2}\ensuremath{\theta})$ with $\ensuremath{\theta}\ensuremath{\in}(0,\ensuremath{\pi}/2).$ Recently, it was pointed out that the allowed region of parameters from a fit to the measured total rates can extend to values $\ensuremath{\theta}g~\ensuremath{\pi}/4$ (the so-called ``dark side'') when higher confidence levels are allowed. The purpose of this Rapid Communication is to reanalyze the problem, including all the solar neutrino data available, to discuss the dependence on the stat…
Global three-neutrino oscillation analysis of neutrino data
2001
A global analysis of the solar, atmospheric and reactor neutrino data is presented in terms of three-neutrino oscillations. We include the most recent solar neutrino rates of Homestake, SAGE, GALLEX and GNO, as well as the recent 1117 day Super-Kamiokande data sample, including the recoil electron energy spectrum both for day and night periods and we treat in a unified way the full parameter space for oscillations, correctly accounting for the transition from the matter enhanced (MSW) to the vacuum oscillations regime. Likewise, we include in our description conversions with $\theta_{12} > \pi/4$. For the atmospheric data we perform our analysis of the contained events and the upward-going …
Phenomenology of maximal and near-maximal lepton mixing
2000
We study the phenomenological consequences of maximal and near-maximal mixing of the electron neutrino with other ($x$=tau and/or muon) neutrinos. We describe the deviations from maximal mixing in terms of a parameter $\epsilon\equiv1-2\sin^2\theta_{ex}$ and quantify the present experimental status for $|\epsilon|<0.3$. We find that the global analysis of solar neutrino data allows maximal mixing with confidence level better than 99% for $10^{-8}$ eV$^2\lsim\Delta m^2\lsim2\times10^{-7}$ eV$^2$. In the mass ranges $\Delta m^2\gsim 1.5\times10^{-5}$ eV$^2$ and $4\times10^{-10}$ eV$^2\lsim\Delta m^2\lsim2\times10^{-7}$ eV$^2$ the full interval $|\epsilon|<0.3$ is allowed within 4$\sigma$(99.9…
Recent developments in Penning-trap mass spectrometry
2016
Abstract Penning-trap mass spectrometry provides atomic masses with the highest precision. At accelerator-based on-line facilities it is applied to investigate exotic radionuclides in the context of tests of fundamental symmetries, nuclear structure studies, and nuclear astrophysics research. Recent progress in slowing down radioactive ion-beams in buffer-gas cells in combination with advanced ion-manipulation techniques has paved the way to reach nuclides ever-more far from stability. In this endeavor many efforts are underway to increase the sensitivity, the efficiency, and the precision of Penning-trap mass spectrometry. In this article some recent experimental developments are addressed…