Direct measurements of capture reactions

Prof. Anna Simon-Robertson
University of Notre Dame

Capture cross sections (both for charged particles and neutrons) are required not only for nuclear astrophysics modeling, but also for a variety of applications ranging from nuclear energy, stockpile stewardship to national security. A variety of techniques have been utilized to perform such measurements to ensure low uncertainty in the measured cross sections over a wide energy range. In this talk, an overview of my group’s efforts in measurements of capture-reactions cross sections will be presented. Investigations of the charged-particle capture reactions using the gamma-summing technique will be discussed, followed by direct methods to measure neutron capture cross sections using a newly established Neutron Irradiation Station at Notre Dame.