Abstract: Because the relatively small neutron capture cross sections of the zirconium isotopes are difficult to measure, the results of previous measurements are often not adequate for a number of problems in astrophysics and nuclear technology. Therefore, the Zr-92(n,gamma) cross section has been remeasured at the CERN n_TOF facility, providing a set of improved parameters for 44 resonances in the neutron energy range up to 40 keV. With this information the cross-section uncertainties in the keV region could be reduced to 5% as required for s-process nucleosynthesis studies and technological applications.

Abstract: The low-lying energy levels of proton-rich Cu-56 have been extracted using in-beam gamma-ray spectroscopy with the state-of-the-art gamma-ray tracking array GRETINA in conjunction with the S800 spectrograph at the National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory at Michigan State University. Excited states in Cu-56 serve as resonances in the Ni-55(p,gamma)Cu-56 reaction, which is a part of the rp process in type-I x-ray bursts. To resolve existing ambiguities in the reaction Q value, a more localized isobaric multiplet mass equation (IMME) fit is used, resulting in Q = 639 +/- 82 keV. We derive the first experimentally constrained thermonuclear reaction rate for Ni-55(p,.) Cu-56. We find that, with this newrate, the rp processmay bypass the (56)Niwaiting point via the Ni-55(p,gamma) reaction for typical x-ray burst conditions with a branching of up to similar to 40%. We also identify additional nuclear physics uncertainties that need to be addressed before drawing final conclusions about the rp-process reaction flow in the Ni-56 region.

Abstract: Background: Levels fulfilling the seniority scheme and relevant isomers are commonly observed features in semimagic nuclei; for example, in Sn isotopes (Z = 50). Seniority isomers in Sn, with dominantly pure neutron configurations, directly probe the underlying neutron-neutron (vv) interaction. Furthermore, an addition of a valence proton particle or hole, through neutron-proton (v pi) interaction, affects the neutron seniority as well as the angular momentum. Purpose: Benchmark the reproducibility of the experimental observables, like the excitation energies (E-x) and the reduced electric-quadrupole transition probabilities [B(E2)], with the results obtained from shell-model interactions for neutron-rich Sn and Sb isotopes with N < 82. Study the sensitivity of the aforementioned experimental observables to the model interaction components. Furthermore, explore from a microscopic point of view the structural similarity between the isomers in Sn and Sb, and thus the importance of the valence proton. Methods: The neutron-rich Sb122-131 isotopes were produced as fission fragments in the reaction Be-9(U-238, f) with 6.2 MeV/u beam energy. A unique setup, consisting of AGATA, VAMOS++, and EXOGAM detectors, was used which enabled the prompt-delayed gamma-ray spectroscopy of fission fragments in the time range of 100 ns to 200 μs. Results: New isomers and prompt and delayed transitions were established in the even-A Sb122-131 isotopes. In the odd-A Sb122-131 isotopes, new prompt and delayed gamma-ray transitions were identified, in addition to the confirmation of the previously known isomers. The half-lives of the isomeric states and the B(E2) transition probabilities of the observed transitions depopulating these isomers were extracted. Conclusions: The experimental data was compared with the theoretical results obtained in the framework of large-scale shell-model (LSSM) calculations in a restricted model space. Modifications of several components of the shell-model interaction were introduced to obtain a consistent agreement with the excitation energies and the B(E2) transition probabilities in neutron-rich Sn and Sb isotopes. The isomeric configurations in Sn and Sb were found to be relatively pure. Furthermore, the calculations revealed that the presence of a single valence proton, mainly in the g(7/2) orbital in Sb isotopes, leads to significant mixing (due to the v pi interaction) of (i) the neutron seniorities (upsilon(v)) and (ii) the neutron angular momentum (I-v). The above features have a weak impact on the excitation energies, but have an important impact on the B(E2) transition probabilities. In addition, a constancy of the relative excitation energies irrespective of neutron seniority and neutron number in Sn and Sb was observed.

Abstract: Background: There have been measurements on roughly 230 nuclei that are beta-delayed neutron emitters. They range from He-8 up to La-150. Apart from 210Tl, with a branching ratio of only 0.007%, no other neutron emitter has been measured beyond A = 150. Therefore, new data are needed, particularly in the region of heavy nuclei around N = 126, in order to guide theoretical models and help understand the formation of the third r-process peak at A similar to 195. Purpose: To measure both beta-decay half-lives and neutron branching ratios of several neutron-rich Au, Hg, Tl, Pb, and Bi isotopes beyond N = 126. Method: Ions of interest were produced by fragmentation of a U-238 beam, selected and identified via the GSI-FRS fragment separator. A stack of segmented silicon detectors (SIMBA) was used to measure ion implants and beta decays. An array of 30 He-3 tubes embedded in a polyethylene matrix (BELEN) was used to detect neutrons with high efficiency and selectivity. A self-triggered digital system is employed to acquire data and to enable time correlations. The latter were analyzed with an analytical model and results for the half-lives and neutron-branching ratios were derived by using the binned maximum-likelihood method. Results: Twenty new beta-decay half-lives are reported for Au204-206, Hg208-211, Tl211-216, Pb215-218, and Bi218-220, nine of them for the first time. Neutron emission probabilities are reported for Hg-210,Hg-211 and Tl211-216. Conclusions: The new beta-decay half-lives are in good agreement with previous measurements on nuclei in this region. The measured neutron emission probabilities are comparable to or smaller than values predicted by global models such as relativistic Hartree Bogoliubov plus the relativistic quasi-particle random phase approximation (RHB + RQRPA).

Abstract: The radiative capture cross section of a highly pure (99.999%), 6.125(2) grams and 9.56(5) x 10(-4) atoms/barn areal density U-238 sample has been measured with the Total Absorption Calorimeter (TAC) in the 185 m flight path at the CERN neutron time-of-flight facility n_TOF. This measurement is in response to the NEA High Priority Request list, which demands an accuracy in this cross section of less than 3% below 25 keV. These data have undergone careful background subtraction, with special care being given to the background originating from neutrons scattered by the 238U sample. Pileup and dead-time effects have been corrected for. The measured cross section covers an energy range between 0.2 eV and 80 keV, with an accuracy that varies with neutron energy, being better than 4% below 25 keV and reaching at most 6% at higher energies.