n_TOF Collaboration(Lederer, C. et al.), Giubrone, G., & Tain, J. L. (2014). Ni-62(n,gamma) and Ni-63(n,gamma) cross sections measured at the n_TOF facility at CERN. Phys. Rev. C, 89(2), 025810–11pp.
Abstract: The cross section of the Ni-62(n,gamma) reaction was measured with the time-of-flight technique at the neutron time-of-flight facility nTOF at CERN. Capture kernels of 42 resonances were analyzed up to 200 keV neutron energy and Maxwellian averaged cross sections (MACS) from kT = 5-100 keV were calculated. With a total uncertainty of 4.5%, the stellar cross section is in excellent agreement with the the KADoNiS compilation at kT = 30 keV, while being systematically lower up to a factor of 1.6 at higher stellar temperatures. The cross section of the Ni-63(n,gamma) reaction was measured for the first time at nTOF. We determined unresolved cross sections from 10 to 270 keV with a systematic uncertainty of 17%. These results provide fundamental constraints on s-process production of heavier species, especially the production of Cu in massive stars, which serve as the dominant source of Cu in the solar system.
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n_TOF Collaboration(Mendoza, E. et al), Domingo-Pardo, C., & Tain, J. L. (2014). Measurement and analysis of the Am-243 neutron capture cross section at the n_TOF facility at CERN. Phys. Rev. C, 90(3), 034608–16pp.
Abstract: Background: The design of new nuclear reactors and transmutation devices requires to reduce the present neutron cross section uncertainties of minor actinides. Purpose: Improvement of the Am-243(n, gamma) cross section uncertainty. Method: The Am-243(n, gamma) cross section has been measured at the n_TOF facility at CERN with a BaF2 total absorption calorimeter, in the energy range between 0.7 eV and 2.5 keV. Results: The Am-243(n, gamma) cross section has been successfully measured in the mentioned energy range. The resolved resonance region has been extended from 250 eV up to 400 eV. In the unresolved resonance region our results are compatible with one of the two incompatible capture data sets available below 2.5 keV. The data available in EXFOR and in the literature have been used to perform a simple analysis above 2.5 keV. Conclusions: The results of this measurement contribute to reduce the Am-243(n, gamma) cross section uncertainty and suggest that this cross section is underestimated up to 25% in the neutron energy range between 50 eV and a few keV in the present evaluated data libraries.
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n_TOF Collaboration(Tarrio, D. et al), Domingo-Pardo, C., Giubrone, G., & Tain, J. L. (2014). Measurement of the angular distribution of fission fragments using a PPAC assembly at CERN n_TOF. Nucl. Instrum. Methods Phys. Res. A, 743, 79–85.
Abstract: A fission reaction chamber based on Parallel Plate Avalanche Counters (PPACs) was built for measuring angular distributions of fragments emitted in neutron-induced fission of actinides at the neutron beam available at the Neutron Time-Of-Flight (n_TOF) facility at CERN. The detectors and the samples were tilted 45 degrees with respect to the neutron beam direction to cover all the possible values of the emission angle of the fission fragments. The main features of this setup are discussed and results on the fission fragment angular distribution are provided for the Th-232(n,f) reaction around the fission threshold. The results are compared with the available data in the literature, demonstrating the good capabilities of this setup.
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n_TOF Collaboration(Weiss, C. et al), Domingo-Pardo, C., Giubrone, G., & Tain, J. L. (2014). The (n,alpha) Reaction in the s-process Branching Point Ni-59. Nucl. Data Sheets, 120, 208–210.
Abstract: The (n,alpha) reaction in the radioactive Ni-59 is of relevance in nuclear astrophysics as Ni-59 can be considered as the first branching point in the astrophysical s-process. Its relevance in nuclear technology is especially related to material embrittlement in stainless steel. However, there is a discrepancy between available experimental data and the evaluated nuclear data files for this reaction. At the n_TOF facility at CERN, a dedicated system based on sCVD diamond diodes was set up to measure the Ni-59(n,alpha)Fe-56 cross section. The results of this measurement, with special emphasis on the dominant resonance at 203 eV, are presented here.
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n_TOF Collaboration(Zugec, P. et al), Domingo-Pardo, C., Giubrone, G., & Tain, J. L. (2014). Experimental neutron capture data of Ni-58 from the CERN n_TOF facility. Phys. Rev. C, 89(1), 014605–9pp.
Abstract: The Ni-58(n,gamma) cross section has been measured at the neutron time of flight facility n_TOF at CERN, in the energy range from 27 meV up to 400 keV. In total, 51 resonances have been analyzed up to 122 keV. Maxwellian averaged cross sections (MACS) have been calculated for stellar temperatures of kT = 5-100 keV with uncertainties of less than 6%, showing fair agreement with recent experimental and evaluated data up to kT = 50 keV. The MACS extracted in the present work at 30 keV is 34.2 +/- 0.6(stat) +/- 1.8(sys) mb, in agreement with latest results and evaluations, but 12% lower relative to the recent KADoNIS compilation of astrophysical cross sections. When included in models of the s-process nucleosynthesis in massive stars, this change results in a 60% increase of the abundance of Ni-58, with a negligible propagation on heavier isotopes. The reason is that, using both the old or the new MACS, Ni-58 is efficiently depleted by neutron captures.
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