Determination of 141Pr(alpha,n)144Pm cross sections at energies of relevance for the astrophysical p-process using the gamma-gamma coincidence method

Abstract

The reaction 141Pr(alpha,n)144Pm was investigated between E_alpha=11 MeV and 15 MeV with the activation method using the gamma-gamma coincidence method with a segmented clover-type high-purity Germanium (HPGe) detector. Measurements with four other HPGe detectors were additionally made. The comparison proves that the gamma-gamma coincidence method is an excellent tool to investigate cross sections down to the microbarn range. The (alpha,n) reaction at low energy is especially suited to test alpha+nucleus optical-model potentials for application in the astrophysical p-process. The experimentally determined cross sections were compared to Hauser-Feshbach statistical model calculations using different optical potentials and generally an unsatisfactory reproduction of the data was found. A local potential was constructed to improve the description of the data. The consequences of applying the same potential to calculate astrophysical (gamma,alpha) rates for 145Pm and 148Gd were explored. In summary, the data and further results underline the problems in global predictions of alpha+nucleus optical potentials at astrophysically relevant energies.

arXiv comment13 pages, 9 figures, accepted in Phys. Rev. C

References in corpus (22)

• Nucleosynthesis in Massive Stars With Improved Nuclear and Stellar Physics
• Astrophysical Reaction Rates From Statistical Model Calculations
• Neutron capture in low mass Asymptotic Giant Branch stars: cross sections and abundance signatures
• The r-process of stellar nucleosynthesis: Astrophysics and nuclear physics achievements and mysteries
• The s Process: Nuclear Physics, Stellar Models, Observations
• Nucleosynthesis and Remnants in Massive Stars of Solar Metallicity
• Type Ia Supernovae as Sites of p-process: Two-Dimensional Models Coupled to Nucleosynthesis
• Sensitivity of p-Process Nucleosynthesis to Nuclear Reaction Rates in a 25 Solar Mass Supernova Model
• The Path to Improved Reaction Rates for Astrophysics
• Branchings in the gamma-process path revisited
• Relevant energy ranges for astrophysical reaction rates
• Alpha-induced cross sections of 106Cd for the astrophysical p-process
• Odd p isotope 113In: Measurement of alpha-induced reactions
• Coulomb suppression of the stellar enhancement factor
• Alpha-induced reaction cross section measurements on 151Eu for the astrophysical gamma-process
• ${}^{92}$Mo($\alpha ,\alpha$)${}^{92}$Mo scattering,the ${}^{92}$Mo--$\alpha$ optical potential, and the ${}^{96}$Ru($\gamma ,\alpha$)${}^{92}$Mo reaction rate at astrophysically relevant energies
• Production of the p-Process Nuclei in the Carbon-Deflagration Model for Type Ia Supernovae
• Cross section measurements of $\alpha$-induced reactions on ${}^{92,94}$Mo and ${}^{112}$Sn for $p$-process studies
• Determining reaction cross sections via characteristic X-ray detection: α-induced reactions on 169Tm for the astrophysical γ -process
• Suppression of the stellar enhancement factor and the reaction 85Rb(p,n)85Sr
• Evolution and Nucleosynthesis of Massive Stars and Related Nuclear Uncertainties
• ${}^{110,116}$Cd($\alpha ,\alpha$)${}^{110,116}$Cd elastic scattering and systematic investigation of elastic $\alpha$ scattering cross sections along the $Z$ = 48 isotopic and $N$ = 62 isotonic chains

Cited by in corpus (40)

• Constraining the astrophysical origin of the p-nuclei through nuclear physics and meteoritic data
• Further explorations of the alpha-particle optical model potential at low energies for the mass range A=45-209
• Sensitivity of astrophysical reaction rates to nuclear uncertainties
• The activation method for cross section measurements in nuclear astrophysics
• Elastic alpha scattering experiments and the alpha-nucleus optical potential at low energies
• The gamma-ray spectrometer HORUS and its applications for nuclear astrophysics
• Investigation of alpha-induced reactions on the p nucleus 168Yb
• Alpha induced reaction cross section measurements on 162Er for the astrophysical gamma process
• Solution of the alpha-potential mystery in the gamma-process and its impact on the Nd/Sm ratio in meteorites
• Investigation of the reaction 74Ge(p,gamma)75As using the in-beam method to improve reaction network predictions for p nuclei
• Relation between total cross sections from elastic scattering and alpha-induced reactions: the example of 64Zn
• Total and partial cross sections of the ${}^{112}$Sn($\alpha ,\gamma$)${}^{116}$Te reaction measured via in-beam $\gamma$-ray spectroscopy
• Experimental cross sections of 165Ho(α,n)168Tm and 166Er(α,n)169Yb for optical potential studies relevant for the astrophysical γ-process
• Role of ($\alpha$,n) reactions under $r$-process conditions in neutrino-driven winds revisited
• Measurement of the 187Re(α,n)190Ir reaction cross section at sub-Coulomb energies using the Cologne Clover Counting Setup
• Investigation of alpha-induced reactions on 127I for the astrophysical gamma process
• Astrophysical analysis of the measurement of (alpha,gamma) and (alpha,n) cross sections of 169Tm
• Test of statistical model cross section calculations for $\alpha$-induced reactions on ${}^{107}$Ag at energies of astrophysical interest
• Low Energy measurement of the ${}^{96}\mathrm{Zr}(\alpha ,n{)}^{99}\mathrm{Mo}$ reaction cross section and its impact on weak r-process nucleosynthesis
• $\alpha$-scattering and $\alpha$-induced reaction cross sections of ${}^{64}$Zn at low energies
• Measurement of (alpha,n) reaction cross sections of erbium isotopes for testing astrophysical rate predictions
• alpha-induced reactions on 115In: cross section measurements and statistical model analysis
• Cross section of $\alpha$-induced reactions on iridium isotopes obtained from thick target yield measurement for the astrophysical $\gamma$ process
• Cross-section measurement of the ${}^{130}$Ba(p,$\gamma$)${}^{131}$La reaction for $\gamma$-process nucleosynthesis
• Analysis of uncertainties in alpha-particle optical-potential assessment below the Coulomb barrier
• Cross section of $\alpha$-induced reactions on ${}^{197}$Au at sub-Coulomb energies
• Experimental study of the astrophysical gamma-process reaction 124Xe(alpha,gamma)128Ba
• Total reaction cross sections from ${}^{141}$141Pr($\alpha$,$\alpha$)${}^{141}$Pr elastic scattering and $\alpha$-induced reaction cross sections at low energies
• Cross-section measurements of radiative proton-capture reactions in ${}^{112}$Cd at energies of astrophysical interest
• Experimental techniques to study the $\gamma$ process for nuclear astrophysics at the Cologne accelerator laboratory
• Total reaction cross section ${\sigma }_{\mathrm{reac}}$ of $\alpha$-induced reactions from elastic scattering: the example ${}^{140}$Ce($\alpha$,$\alpha$)${}^{140}$Ce
• The 106Cd(alpha,alpha)106Cd elastic scattering in a wide energy range for gamma-process studies
• General properties of astrophysical reaction rates in explosive nucleosynthesis
• Cross section measurement of the 144Sm(alpha,n)147Gd reaction for studying the alpha-nucleus optical potential at astrophysical energies
• Uncertainty of the astrophysical ${}^{17,18}$O($\alpha$,n)${}^{20,21}$Ne reaction rates and the applicability of the statistical model for nuclei with $A\lesssim 20$
• Unexpected properties of the ${}^{33}$S($\alpha$,p)${}^{36}$Cl reaction cross section at low energies
• Optical potential for incident and emitted low-energy $\alpha$ particles. III. Non-statistical processes induced by neutrons on Zr, Nb, and Mo nuclei
• Cross sections at sub-Coulomb energies: full optical model vs.\ barrier transmission for ${}^{40}$Ca + $\alpha$
• An ERC Starting Grant project on p-process nucleosynthesis concluded
• Nuclear physics uncertainties of the astrophysical gamma-process studied through the 64Zn(p,alpha)61Cu and 64Zn(p,gamma)65Ga reactions