Astrophysical S factor for dd interaction at ultralow energies

Experimental results are presented that were obtained by measuring the astrophysical S factor for dd interaction at very low deuteron collision energies by using the liner-plasma technique. The experiment was performed at the high-current generator of the High-Current Electronics Institute (Tomsk, Russia). The values found for the S factor at the deuteron collision energies of 1.80, 2.06, and 2.27 keV are S _dd=114±68, 64±30, and 53±16 keV b, respectively. The corresponding dd cross sections obtained as the product of the barrier factor and the measured astrophysical S factor are σ _dd ⁿ (E _col=1.80 keV)=(4.3±2.6)×10^?33cm², σ _dd ⁿ (E _col=2.06 keV)=(9.8±4.6)×10^?33cm², and σ _dd ⁿ (E _col=2.27 keV)=(2.1±0.6)×10^?32cm².     

Preliminary results of the study of the d(d,n)3He reaction in the astrophysical energy range with the use of a Hall plasma accelerator

The possibility of using a plasma accelerator based on a pulsed Hall ion source to study the characteristics of pd, dd, d³He, ³He, and⁴He reactions in the astrophysical energy range (2–12 keV) has been considered. The preliminary experimental data on measurement of the astrophysical S factor for the dd reaction (dd → ³He + n (2.5 MeV)) at average deuteron collision energies E _col = 4.5 and 4.95 keV and the deuteron beam energy spread FWHM = 18% are reported. The found value of the S factor is in agreement with the results of the experiments carried out by us previously using linear plasma in the inverse Z-pinch configuration.     

Measurement of astrophysical S factors and electron screening potentials for d(d, n)3He reaction In ZrD2, TiD2, D2O, and CD2 targets in the ultralow energy region using plasma accelerators

The paper is devoted to study electron screening effect influence on the rate of d(d, n)³He reaction in the ultralow deuteron collision energy range in the deuterated polyethylene (CD₂), frozen heavy water (D₂O) and deuterated metals (ZrD₂ and TiD₂). The ZrD₂ and TiD₂ targets were fabricated via magnetron sputtering of titanium and zirconium in gas (deuterium) environment. The experiments have been carried out using high-current plasma pulsed accelerator with forming of inverse Z pinch (HCEIRAS, Russia) and pulsed Hall plasma accelerator (NPI at TPU, Russia). The detection of neutrons with energy of 2.5MeV from dd reaction was done with plastic scintillation spectrometers. As a result of the experiments the energy dependences of astrophysical S factor for the dd reaction in the deuteron collision energy range of 2?C7 keV and the values of the electron screening potential U _e of interacting deuterons have been measured for the indicated above target: U _e (CD₂) ? 40 eV; U _e (D₂O) ? 26 eV; U _e (ZrD₂) = 157 ± 43 eV; U _e (TiD₂) = 125±34 eV. The value of astrophysical S factor, corresponding to the deuteron collision energy equal to zero, in the experiments with D₂O target is found: S _b (0) = 58.6 ± 3.6 keV b. The paper compares our results with other available published experimental and calculated data.     

Experimental determination of the electron screening potential energy for the d(d, n)3He Reaction in ZrD2 and D2O in the ultralow energy region

This work is devoted to measuring of the values of the astrophysical S-factors and electron screening potential energy for a d(d,n)³He reaction occurring at ultralow energies in zirconium deuteride ZrD₂ (3.5–7.0 keV) and heavy water D₂O (2.2–6.0 keV). The experiment was performed on the Hall pulsed plasma accelerator at the TPU Nuclear Physics Institute (Tomsk) with ZrD₂ and D₂O targets produced by the magnetron sputtering of zirconium in a deuterium environment and heavy water freezing-out on a copper support, respectively. A χ ² analysis of the dependence of the neutron yields and astrophysical S-factors for the dd reaction on the deuteron collision energy E revealed that the upper bounds of the electron screening potential energy for interacting deuterons in ZrD₂ and D₂O and of the astrophysical S-factors at the deuteron collision energy E = 0 were U _e (ZrD₂) < 30 eV, U _e (D₂O) < 25 eV, S(0) = (57.2 ± 3.9) keV · b (ZrD₂), S(0) = (58.6 ± 3.6) keV · b (D₂O) at the 90% confidence level.     

Total cross-section measurements for the production of nuclear gamma rays from light nuclei by low-energy deuterons

The thick target yields of the reactions ⁶Li, ⁹Be, ¹⁰B(d, nγ) for specific final nucleus γ-rays have been measured between deuteron bombarding energies of 48 and 170 keV. The measured thick target yields are used, together with recently published values of the stopping power of low-energy deuterons in matter, to infer the total reaction cross sections for the production of the specific γ-rays between deuteron energies of 65 and 160 keV. The cross sections are compared to appropriate Coulomb barrier penetration probabilities and the astrophysical functions S(E) are deduced.     

The 18O(p, α)15N cross section at low energies

The ¹⁸O(p, α)¹⁵N reaction cross section has been measured over the energy range 661 keV > E_c.m > 223 keV. The S-function was extrapolated to energies of astrophysical interest using the R-matrix theory. The S-factor, S₀, is estimated to be 46 MeV · b which is a factor of 3 larger than the value used in a recent tabulation of nuclear reaction rates. The effects of broad levels near the proton threshold are discussed.     

Deuterium liner and multiparametric studies of the formation of an inverse Z-pinch

A method and results of measurements are presented of the ion energy distribution in a deuterium liner accelerated in the inverse Z-pinch, in which the plasma is accelerated electrodynamically from the liner axis. Knowledge of the deuteron energy distribution is of primary importance for the correct interpretation of the experimental results from the study of the dd-reaction in the range of infralow energies with the use of a liner plasma. Experiments were carried out in a high-current pulsed accelerator (I=950 kA, τ=80 ns) at the Institute of High-Current Electronics of the Siberian Division of the Russian Academy of Sciences (Tomsk, Russia). In the initial state, the liner is a supersonic hollow deuterium jet 32 mm in diameter and 20 mm in length. The liner parameters were measured with the help of optical detectors of H _α and H _β deuterium lines and magnetic probes arranged in a radial direction (along the direction the liner expansion). In addition, scintillation spectrometers and BF₃ counters were used to measure the intensity of the neutron flux produced in the d + d → ³He + n reaction. The results obtained by simultaneously analyzing the data from magnetic probes, optical detectors, and neutron detectors point to the possibility of using a rather simple method for measuring the parameters of the liner accelerated up to energies of 3–6 keV.     

DD reaction enhancement and X-ray generation in a high-current pulsed glow discharge in deuterium with titanium cathode at 0.8–2.45 kV

The DD reaction yield (3-MeV protons) and the soft X-ray emission from a titanium (Ti) cathode surface in a periodic pulsed glow discharge in deuterium were studied at a discharge voltage of 0.8–2.45 kV and a discharge current density of 300–600 mA/cm². The electron screening potential U_e = 610 ± 150 eV was estimated in the range of deuteron energies 0.8 keV < E_d < 2.45 keV from an analysis of the DD reaction yield as a function of the accelerating voltage. The obtained data show evidence for a significant enhancement of the DD reaction yield in Ti in comparison to both theoretical estimates (based on the extrapolation of the known DD reaction cross section for E_d ≥ 5 keV to low deuteron energies in the Bosch-Halle approximation) and the results of experiments using accelerators at the deuteron energies E_lab ≥ 2.5 keV and current densities 50–500 μ A/cm². Intense emission of soft X-ray quanta (10¹³–10¹⁴ s^?1 cm^?2) was observed at an average energy of 1.2–1.5 keV. The X-ray emission intensity and the DD reaction yield enhancement strongly depend on the rate of deuterium diffusion in a thin subsurface layer of Ti cathode.     

Asymptotic three-particle approach to the Coulomb breakup process <Superscript>6</Superscript>Li + <Superscript>208</Superscript>Pb → <Superscript>208</Superscript>Pb + α + <Emphasis Type="Italic">d</Emphasis>

On the basis of the distorted-wave method, experimental data on the triple-differential cross section for the Coulomb breakup reaction ²⁰⁸Pb(⁶Li, αd)²⁰⁸Pb are analyzed by employing a correct expression for the final-state ²⁰⁸Pb–α–d three-particle Coulomb wave function. It is shown that the effect of final-state three-particle Coulomb dynamics can be used to assess the kinematical condition of clean Coulomb breakup processes. New values of the astrophysical S factor for the direct-radiative-capture reaction d(α, γ)⁶Li at ultralow energies in the range of 70 ≤ E _dα ≤ 600 keV were extracted from experimental data. The value of S(0) = 1.60 ± 0.17 MeV nb was obtained.     

Astrophysical <Emphasis Type="Italic">S</Emphasis>-factor of T(<Superscript>4</Superscript>He, γ)<Superscript>7</Superscript>Li reaction at <Emphasis Type="Italic">E</Emphasis><Subscript>cm</Subscript> = 15.7 keV

The astrophysical S-factor of the reaction T(⁴He, γ)⁷Li is measured for the first time at the center of mass energy E _cm = 15.7 keV, lower than the energy range of the Standard Big Bang Nucleosynthesis (SBBN) model. The experiment is performed on a Hall pulsed accelerator (TPU, Tomsk). An acceleration pulse length of 10 μs allows one to suppress the background of cosmic radiation and the ambient medium by five orders of magnitude. A beam intensity of ~ 5 × 10^{14 4}He⁺ ions per pulse allows one to measure an extremely low reaction yield. The yield of γ-quanta with the energies E _γ ⁰ = 2483.7 keV and E _γ ¹ = 2006.1 keV is registered by NaI(Tl) detectors with the efficiency ε = 0.331 ± 0.026. A method for direct measurement of the background from the chain of reactions T(⁴He, ⁴He)T→T(T, 2n)X→(n, γ) and/or (n, n′γ) which ends by neutron activation of materials surrounding the target is proposed and implemented in this study. The value of the astrophysical S-factor of the reaction T(⁴He, γ)⁷Li S _αt (E _cm = 15.7 keV) = 0.091 ± 0.032 keV b provides the choice from the set of experimental data for the astrophysical S _αt -factor in favor of experimental data [4] with S _αt (E _cm = 0) = 0.1067 ± 0.0064 keV b.     

Absolute cross sections for the 6Li(p, 3He)4He reaction at energies below 1 MeV

Total cross sections and angular distributions in the ⁶Li(p,³He)⁴He reaction have been measured over the energy range E_p = 100?700 keV. The extrapolation of the cross section to the energy region which is of interest in controlled thermonuclear reactors is given. The values of the “astrophysical S-function” are deduced from the cross sections.     

Investigation of temperature dependence of neutron yield and electron screening potential for the d(d, n)3He reaction proceeding in deuterides ZrD2 and TiD2

The temperature dependence of the enhancement factor for the dd reaction proceeding in TiD₂ and ZrD₂ is investigated. The experiments were carried out at the Hall pulsed ion accelerator (INP, Polytechnic University, Tomsk, Russia) in the deuteron energy interval 7.0?C12.0 keV and at temperatures ranging from 20 to 200°C. The values obtained for the electron screening potentials indicate that the dd reaction enhancement factor does not depend on the target temperature in the range 20?C200°C. This result contradicts the conclusions drawn by the LUNA Collaboration from their work.     

New22Ne(α,n)25Mg-resonances at very low energies relevant for the astrophysical s-process

The ²²Ne(α,n)²⁵Mgreaction is thought to be one of the main neutron sources for the astrophysical s-process. Thus cross section data for this reaction have been obtained from near the threshold (E _α≈570keV) up toE _α=2100 keV using the 4 MV DYNAMITRON accelerator at Stuttgart, the windowless gastarget system RHINOCEROS and a 4π neutron detector. Two new resonances have been observed atE _α=623 ± 6 and 838 ± 6 kev, which dominate the reaction rate at T₉<0.3.Possible background reactions are discussed.     

Analysis of average primary gamma-transition intensities and cross sections of the113Cd(n, γ) reaction

A combined analysis of the available data on the primaryγ-ray intensities from the¹¹³Cd(n, γ) reaction atE _n=1.9 and 24.3 keV neutron energies together with the data on¹¹³Cd neutron capture cross sections in theE _n=3–200 keV energy region was carried out. The neutron strength functions were determined asS _n0=(0.260±0.073) 10^?4 and S_n1=(5.06±0.67) 10^?4. No spin-orbit splitting of thep-wave neutron strength function was found. The energy dependence of theE 1 radiative strength function {ie147-01} was fitted by the Kadmenski-Furman model somewhat better than by a standard Lorentzian. TheM 1 giant resonance parameters were obtained as E _G ^{M 1} =8.8±1.6 MeV and Γ _G ^{M 1} = 4.7±2.6 MeV. The neutron capture cross section of¹¹³Cd from its isomeric state ({ie147-02}=11/2^?, E ₁ ^m =263.7 keV) was calculated.     

Angular correlation measurements in the Be9(d,p, γ)Be10 reaction

Thep-γ angular correlations in the Be⁹(d, p, γ)Be¹⁰ reaction have been measured in the reaction plane atE _d =1.3, 1.5, 1.9, 2.3 and 2.45 MeV for proton anglesθ _p =35°, 80° and 120°. The anisotropy of the angular correlations measured forθ _p =35° is independent of deuteron energy. A systematic shift of the symmetry axis from the recoil direction has been observed. The shift is 20.5° at E_d=2.45 MeV. The anisotropy decreases with increasing proton angle and vanishes atθ _p =120°.     

Remeasurement of the low-energy cross section for the 15N(p, α0)12C reaction

The cross section for the ${}^{15}\text{N(p}\text{, α}{}_0\text{)}{}^{12}\text{C}$ reaction has been measured at θ_lab = 135° over the proton energy range 93 ≦ E_p ≦ 418 keV. The results are in good agreement with the less precise but much earlier measurements of Schardt, Fowler and Lauritsen (1952). An analysis of the present data in terms of a two-level calculation including the 338 keV (1^?) and 1028 keV (1^?) resonances determines a zero-energy intercept for the astrophysical S-factor of S(0) = 78 ± 6 MeV · b.     

The15N(p,α 0)12C reaction at stellar energies

The¹⁵N(ρ, α₀)¹²C reaction has been investigated in the energy range ofE _p (lab)=78-810keV. The measurement of the excitation functions and α-particle angular distributions involved solid targets as well as a quasi-point supersonic jet gas target. The determination of absolute cross sections has been carried out with the gas target. The observed energy dependence of the total cross sections can be described in terms of two-level Breit-Wigner shapes including the resonances atE _p (J ^π)=335(1^?) and 1,028(1^?)keV. The data lead to a zero-energy intercept of the astrophysicalS(E) factor ofS(0)= 65±4MeV-b. The angular distributions are asymmetric around 90° and require an additional amplitude in the reaction mechanism, which interferes predominantly with the 335 keV resonance. The origin of this background amplitude is discussed.     

Levels in Gd158 from the (d,p) reaction

The nuclear spectroscopy of Gd¹⁵⁸ has been investigated by deuteron stripping with magnetic analysis of the resulting protons. Over fifty levels have been observed. Comparison is made of observed and theoretical relative cross sections. Two new rotational bands have been observed; one band based on the 2+ two-quasiparticle state [521 +] – [521?] at 2333.6 keV and a second band based on the 1 + two-quasiparticle state [521 +] – [521?] at 2494 keV. The ground state (d,p)Q-value was found to beQ _o=5706± 5 keV.     

Microscopic study of the low-energy 7Be(p,γ)8B reaction

We have performed a microscopic study of the ⁷Be(p,γ)⁸B reaction at low energies within the framework of the resonating group method. At solar energies, E=20 keV, we find an astrophysical S-factor of 0.0254 keV b which is in agreement with the value currently adopted in solar model calculations.     

Low-energy behavior of the 3He(α, γ)7Be cross section

Cross sections for the ³He(α, γ)⁷Be reaction have been measured at several energies from E_c.m. = 165 to 1169 keV by counting prompt γ-rays from a windowless, differentially pumped, recirculating, ³He gas target. The cross-section factor S₃₄(E_c.m.) and branching ratio γ₁/γ₀ were determined at each energy. Cross sections were also measured at E_c.m. = 947 and 1255 keV by counting the γ-rays from the ⁷Be produced in a ³He gas cell with a Ni entrance foil. Combining the results of these two independent experiments yields a zero-energy intercept for the cross-section factor of S₃₄(0) = 0.53 ± 0.03 keV · b. The relationship between these measurements and several theoretical calculations, and the import of the extrapolated cross section for the solar-neutrino problem are discussed.