The ${}^{63}$Ni(n,${\hat{I}}^3$) cross section measured with DANCE

Abstract

The neutron capture cross section of the s-process branch nucleus ${}^{63}$Ni affects the abundances of other nuclei in its region, especially ${}^{63}$Cu and ${}^{64}$Zn. In order to determine the energy dependent neutron capture cross section in the astrophysical energy region, an experiment at the Los Alamos National Laboratory has been performed using the calorimetric 4$\ddot{I}€$ BaF${}_2$ array DANCE. The (n,${\hat{I}}^3$) cross section of ${}^{63}$Ni has been determined relative to the well known ${}^{197}$Au standard with uncertainties below 15%. Various ${}^{63}$Ni resonances have been identified based on the Q-value. Furthermore, the s-process sensitivity of the new values was analyzed with the new network calculation tool NETZ.

11 pages, 13 pages