Abstract
An important experimental program on Nuclear Astrophysics is being carried out at the n_TOF since several years, in order to address the still open issues in stellar and primordial nucleosynthesis. Several neutron capture reactions relevant to s-process nucleosynthesis have been measured so far, some of which on important branching point radioisotopes. Furthermore, the construction of a second experimental area has recently opened the way to challenging measurements of (n, charged particle) reactions on isotopes of short half-life. The Nuclear Astrophysics program of the n_TOF Collaboration is here described, with emphasis on recent results relevant for stellar nucleosynthesis, stellar neutron sources and primordial nucleosynthesis.
Highlights
Neutron-induced cross sections play a fundamental role in Nuclear Astrophysics, being a key nuclear physics ingredient in stellar nucleosynthesis of heavy elements [1], as well as in light element production in Big Bang Nucleosynthesis [2]
Neutron-induced reactions of relevance for Nuclear Astrophysics are being studied since many decades at neutron facilities worldwide, some open issues in stellar and primordial nucleosynthesis still remain to be addressed in order to reach a more comprehensive understanding of the elemental abundance distribution and of the galactic chemical evolution
Since the start of operation, in 2001, a large number of capture reactions have been measured, in EAR1, on a variety of subjects, from neutron magic nuclei, acting as bottleneck for the reaction flow of the s-process, to branching point isotopes, from light nuclei acting as neutron poison, to end-point nuclei, and, to isotopes of special interest, such as those involved in the Os/Re nuclear cosmochronometer
Summary
Neutron-induced cross sections play a fundamental role in Nuclear Astrophysics, being a key nuclear physics ingredient in stellar nucleosynthesis of heavy elements [1], as well as in light element production in Big Bang Nucleosynthesis [2]. Neutron-induced reactions of relevance for Nuclear Astrophysics are being studied since many decades at neutron facilities worldwide, some open issues in stellar and primordial nucleosynthesis still remain to be addressed in order to reach a more comprehensive understanding of the elemental abundance distribution and of the galactic chemical evolution To this end, an intense experimental program is undergoing at the neutron facility n_TOF (CERN) since almost two decades, in order to reduce the uncertainty on neutron capture and (n, charged particle) cross sections for some key isotopes, and improve the reliability of astrophysical models. In EAR2 it is possible to perform challenging measurements on isotopes with half-life as short as a few months
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