How Rapid is the Rapid Neutron Capture Process?

Richard Hughes | 21-LW-032

Executive Summary

We will experimentally determine the neutron capture reaction rate for radioactive strontium-93 using the surrogate nuclear reaction approach with a radioactive beam. This will be the first experimentally constrained neutron capture reaction rate for a nucleus far from stability and will confirm or refute a reported factor of ten enhancement in this rate, potentially revising our understanding of nuclear processes in stars.

Publications, Presentations, and Patents

Richard, A. et al. "Experimentally Constrained 102,103Mo(n,g) Reaction Rates and their Impact on Predicted i-Process Abundances." JINA-CEE Frontiers in Nuclear Astrophysics Meeting, South Bend, IN. May 2022. LLNL-PRES-835620.

Richard, A. et al. "Particle-Gamma Coincidence Studies of 93Sr(d,p)94Sr via the Surrogate Reaction Method." Nuclear Structure 2022, Berkeley, CA. June 2022. LLNL-PRES-836219.