Abstract: The Ge-76(n, gamma) reaction has been measured at the n_TOF facility at CERN via the time-of-flight technique. Neutron capture cross sections on Ge-76 are of interest to a variety of low-background experiments, such as neutrinoless double beta decay searches, and to nuclear astrophysics. We have determined resonance capture kernels up to 52 keV neutron energy and used the new data to calculate Maxwellian-averaged neutron capture cross sections for k(B)T values of 5 to 100 keV.

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 neutron capture cross sections of several unstable key isotopes acting as branching points in the s-process are crucial for stellar nucleosynthesis studies, but they are very challenging to measure directly due to the difficult production of sufficient sample material, the high activity of the resulting samples, and the actual (n, gamma) measurement, where high neutron fluxes and effective background rejection capabilities are required. At present there are about 21 relevant s-process branching point isotopes whose cross section could not be measured yet over the neutron energy range of interest for astrophysics. However, the situation is changing with some very recent developments and upcoming technologies. This work introduces three techniques that will change the current paradigm in the field: the use of gamma-ray imaging techniques in (n,gamma) experiments, the production of moderated neutron beams using high-power lasers, and double capture experiments in Maxwellian neutron beams.

Abstract: Lifetimes of the excited states in the neutron-rich Ti-52,Ti-54 nuclei, produced in a multinucleon-transfer reaction, were measured by employing the Cologne plunger device and the recoil-distance Doppler-shift method. The experiment was performed at the Grand Accelerateur National d'Ions Lourds facility by using the Advanced Gamma Tracking Array for the gamma-ray detection, coupled to the large-acceptance variable mode spectrometer for an event-by-event particle identification. A comparison between the transition probabilities obtained from the measured lifetimes of the 2(1)(+) to 8(1)(+) yrast states in Ti-52,Ti-54 and that from the shell-model calculations based on the well-established GXPF1A, GXPF1B, and KB3G fp shell interactions support the N = 32 subshell closure. The B(E2) values for Ti-52 determined in this work are in disagreement with the known data, but are consistent with the predictions of the shell-model calculations and reduce the previously observed pronounced staggering across the even-even titanium isotopes.

Abstract: A gamma-ray spectroscopic study of Po-212 was performed at the Grand Accelerateur National d'Ions Lourds, using the inverse kinematics alpha-transfer reaction C-12(Pb-208, Po-212) Be-8 and the AGATA spectrometer. A careful analysis based on gamma gamma coincidence relations allowed us to establish 14 new excited states in the energy range between 1.9 and 3.3 MeV. None of these states, however, can be considered as candidates for the levels with spins and parities of 1(-) and 2(-) and excitation energies below 2.1 MeV, which have been predicted by recent alpha-cluster model calculations. A systematic comparison of the experimentally established excitation scheme of Po-212 with shell-model calculations was performed. This comparison suggests that the six states with excitation energies (spins and parities) of 1744 (4(-)), 1751 (8(-)), 1787 (6(-)), 1946 (4(-)), 1986 (8(-)), and 2016 (6(-)) keV, which previously were interpreted as alpha-cluster states, may in fact be of positive parity and belong to low-lying shell-model multiplets. This reinterpretation of the structure of Po-212 is supported by experimental information with respect to the linear polarization of gamma rays, which suggests a magnetic character of the 432-keV gamma ray decaying from the state at an excitation energy of 1787 keV to the 6(1)(+) yrast state, and exclusive reaction cross sections.