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News article16 April 2020

Combined experimental and theoretical study between CERN, INFN and JRC

The yellow line represents the main s-process path in the Sm-Eu-Gd region; the s-only isotopes are highlighted with a yellow dashed box. Stable elements are in black, β+, β− and β+ radioisotopes are in orange, blue and red, respectively.
The yellow line represents the main s-process path in the Sm-Eu-Gd region; the s-only isotopes are highlighted with a yellow dashed box. Stable elements are in black, β+, β− and β+ radioisotopes are in orange, blue and red, respectively.

Cross sections for neutron induced capture reactions are of primary importance for a better understanding of the origin of elements heavier than iron through stellar nucleosynthesis modelling.

The production of improved cross section data for Gd-isotopes is part of a collaborative effort within Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare (INFN) Bologna, the n_TOF collaboration and Joint Research Centre (JRC).

Results of transmission measurements at the time-of-flight facility GELINA of JRC at Geel site and capture cross section measurements at the n_TOF facility of CERN were combined to improve the cross sections for neutron induced interactions with 154Gd. The results of these measurements were summarised in a paper entitled “Measurement of the 154Gd(n,g) cross section and its astrophysical implications” by Mazzone et al. and can be downloaded from the ScienceDirect website.

The importance of this work for astrophysical applications was mentioned in a newsletter of the “Istituto Nazionale di Astrofisica”.

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Publication date
16 April 2020