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Title: Measurement of the {sup 60}Fe(n,{gamma}){sup 61}Fe Cross Section at Stellar Temperatures

Journal Article · · Physical Review Letters
; ;  [1]; ;  [2]; ;  [3]; ; ; ; ;  [4];  [4];  [5]
  1. University of Notre Dame, Department of Physics, Notre Dame, Indiana (United States)
  2. GSI Darmstadt, Planckstrasse 1, 64291 Darmstadt (Germany)
  3. Laboratory for Environmental and Radiochemistry, PSI, 5232 Villigen PSI (Switzerland)
  4. Forschungszentrum Karlsruhe, Institut fuer Kernphysik, Postfach 3640, D-76021 Karlsruhe (Germany)
  5. Keele University, Keele, Staffordshire ST5 5BG (United Kingdom)

Observations of galactic {gamma}-ray activity have challenged the current understanding of nucleosynthesis in massive stars. Recent measurements of {sup 60}Fe abundances relative to {sup 26}Al{sup g} have underscored the need for accurate nuclear information concerning the stellar production of {sup 60}Fe. In light of this motivation, a first measurement of the stellar {sup 60}Fe(n,{gamma}){sup 61}Fe cross section, the predominant destruction mechanism of {sup 60}Fe, has been performed by activation at the Karlsruhe Van de Graaff accelerator. Results show a Maxwellian averaged cross section at kT=25 keV of 9.9{+-}{sub 1.4(stat)}{sup 2.8(syst)}mbarn, a significant reduction in uncertainty with respect to existing theoretical discrepancies. This result will serve to significantly constrain models of {sup 60}Fe nucleosynthesis in massive stars.

OSTI ID:
21180370
Journal Information:
Physical Review Letters, Vol. 102, Issue 15; Other Information: DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.102.151101; (c) 2009 The American Physical Society; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0031-9007
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English