Neutron transfer and neutron capture on the example of ²⁵Mg(d,p) and ²⁵Mg(n,g)

Dr. Joachim Goerres
Department of Physics
University of Notre Dame

Radiative neutron capture reactions play an important role in nuclear astrophysics. In some cases direct neutron capture reaction studies are not possible and neutron transfer reactions have been suggested as a surrogate approach. We have performed a detailed study of the ²⁵ Mg(d,p)²⁶Mg reaction at a beam energy of 56 MeV as surrogate reaction to the radiative neutron capture reaction ²⁵Mg(n,g)²⁶Mg. The experimental results indicate that different levels in ²⁶Mg are being populated through the two reaction mechanisms, which would cause substantial discrepancies in the reaction rate prediction.

Hosted by Prof. Wiescher