Structural effects of Na34 in the Na33(n,γ)Na34 radiative capture reaction

G. Singh, Shubhchintak, and R. Chatterjee
Phys. Rev. C 95, 065806 – Published 30 June 2017

Abstract

Background: The path towards the production of r-process seed nuclei follows a course where the neutron rich light and medium mass nuclei play a crucial role. The neutron capture rates for these exotic nuclei could dominate over their α-capture rates, thereby enhancing their abundances at or near the drip line. Sodium isotopes especially should have a strong neutron capture flow to gain abundance at the drip line. In this context, study of Na33(n,γ)Na34 and Na33(α,n)Al36 reactions becomes indispensable.

Purpose: In this paper, we calculate the radiative neutron capture cross section for the Na33(n,γ)Na34 reaction involving deformation effects. Subsequently, the rate for this reaction is found and compared with that of the α-capture for the Na33(α,n)Al36 reaction to determine the possible path flow for the abundances of sodium isotopes.

Method: We use the entirely quantum mechanical theory of finite-range distorted-wave Born approximation upgraded to incorporate deformation effects, and calculate the Coulomb dissociation of Na34 as it undergoes elastic breakup on Pb208 when directed at a beam energy of 100 MeV/u. Using the principle of detailed balance to study the reverse photodisintegration reaction, we find the radiative neutron capture cross section with variation in one-neutron binding energy and quadrupole deformation of Na34. The rate of this Na33(n,γ)Na34 reaction is then compared with that of the α-capture by Na33 deduced from the Hauser-Feshbach theory.

Results: The nonresonant one-neutron radiative capture cross section for Na33(n,γ)Na34 is calculated and is found to increase with increasing deformation of Na34. An analytic scrutiny of the capture cross section with neutron separation energy as a parameter is also done at different energy ranges. The calculated reaction rate is compared with the rate of the Na33(α,n)Al36 reaction, and is found to be significantly higher below a temperature of T9=2.

Conclusion: At the equilibrium temperature of T9=0.62, the rate for the neutron capture had a small but non-negligible dependence on the structural parameters of Na34. In addition, this neutron capture rate exceeded that of the α-capture reaction by orders of magnitude, indicating that the α-process should not break the (n,γ) r-process path at the Na33 isotope, thus effectively pushing the abundance of sodium isotopes towards the neutron drip line.

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  • Received 19 February 2017
  • Revised 11 April 2017

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevC.95.065806

©2017 American Physical Society

Physics Subject Headings (PhySH)

Nuclear Physics

Authors & Affiliations

G. Singh1,*, Shubhchintak2,†, and R. Chatterjee1,‡

  • 1Department of Physics, Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee 247667, India
  • 2Department of Physics and Astronomy, Texas A&M University, Commerce, Texas 75429, USA

  • *gagandph@iitr.ac.in
  • shub.shubhchintak@tamuc.edu
  • rcfphfph@iitr.ac.in

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Issue

Vol. 95, Iss. 6 — June 2017

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