Dependence of direct neutron capture on nuclear-structure models

Abstract

The prediction of cross sections for nuclei far off stability is crucial in the field of nuclear astrophysics. We calculate direct neutron capture on the even-even isotopes ${}^{124\ensuremath{-}145}$Sn and ${}^{208\ensuremath{-}238}$Pb with energy levels, masses, and nuclear density distributions taken from different nuclear-structure models. The utilized structure models are a Hartree-Fock-Bogoliubov model, a relativistic mean field theory, and a macroscopic-microscopic model based on the finite-range droplet model and a folded-Yukawa single-particle potential. Due to the differences in the resulting neutron separation and level energies, the investigated models yield capture cross sections sometimes differing by orders of magnitude. This may also lead to differences in the predicted astrophysical $r$-process paths.