Measurement of Ge-73(n, gamma) cross sections and implications for stellar nucleosynthesis

Abstract

Ge-73(n, gamma) cross sections were measured at the neutron time-of-flight facility n_TOF at CERN up to neutron energies of 300 keV, providing for the first time experimental data above 8 keV. Results indicate that the stellar cross section at kT = 30 keV is 1.5 to 1.7 times higher than most theoretical predictions.

The new cross sections result in a substantial decrease of Ge-73 produced in stars, which would explain the low isotopic abundance of Ge-73 in the solar system. (C) 2019 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier B.V.

Keywords

• Nucleosynthesis
• Neutron capture
• s process
• Germanium
• n_TOF