F. Naqvi

Novel technique for constraining r -process (n, γ) reaction rates

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 γ spectra from the β decay of ^{76}Ga have been measured with the SuN detector at the National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory. The nuclear level density and γ-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,γ)^{76}Ge cross section and reaction rate.

Experimental Neutron Capture Rate Constraint Far from Stability

Nuclear reactions where an exotic nucleus captures a neutron are critical for a wide variety of applications, from energy production and national security, to astrophysical processes, and nucleosynthesis. Neutron capture rates are well constrained near stable isotopes where experimental data are available; however, moving far from the valley of stability, uncertainties grow by orders of magnitude. This is due to the complete lack of experimental constraints, as the direct measurement of a neutron-capture reaction on a short-lived nucleus is extremely challenging. Here, we report on the first experimental extraction of a neutron capture reaction rate on ^{69}Ni, a nucleus that is five neutrons away from the last stable isotope of Ni. The implications of this measurement on nucleosynthesis around mass 70 are discussed, and the impact of similar future measurements on the understanding of the origin of the heavy elements in the cosmos is presented.

Completing the nuclear reaction puzzle of the nucleosynthesis of Mo 92

One of the greatest questions for modern physics to address is how elements heavier than iron are created in extreme astrophysical environments. A particularly challenging part of that question is the creation of the so-called

Enhanced low-energy γ-decay strength of Ni70 and its robustness within the shell model

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Novel Techniques for Constraining Neutron-Capture Rates Relevant to Heavy-element Nucleosynthesis

-nuclei, which are believed to be mainly produced in some types of supernovae. The lack of needed nuclear data presents an obstacle in nailing down the precise site and astrophysical conditions. In this work, we present for the first time measurements on the nuclear level density and average

The Statistical Properties Of 92Mo And Implications For The p-process

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Strong neutron-γ competition above the neutron threshold in the decay of Co70

strength function of

Shell Evolution towards Ni 78 : Low-Lying States in Cu 77

^{92}\mathrm{Mo}

Shell Evolution towards Ni78 : Low-Lying States in Cu77

. State-of-the-art

Neutron-capture rates for explosive nucleosynthesis: the case of 68Ni(n, γ)69Ni

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