Novel technique for constraining r-process (n,${\hat{I}}^3$) reaction rates

Abstract

A novel technique has been developed, which will open exciting new opportunities for studying the very neutron-rich nuclei involved in the r-process. As a proof-of-principle, the ${\hat{I}}^3$-spectra from the ${\hat{I}}^2$-decay of ${}^{76}$Ga have been measured with the SuN detector at the National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory. The nuclear level density and ${\hat{I}}^3$-ray strength function are extracted and used as input to Hauser-Feshbach calculations. The present technique is shown to strongly constrain the ${}^{75}$Ge($n,{\hat{I}}^3$)${}^{76}$Ge cross section and reaction rate.

5 pages, 3 figures