Experimental Techniques in Nuclear

Astrophysics
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Saed Dababneh
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Experimental Techniques in Nuclear
Astrophysics
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Saed Dababneh
. --'- --'~
A lecture given to the
1 Experimental Techniques in Nuclear Astrophysics Saed Dababneh JAS 27/09/2012
A lecture given to the
Jordanian Astronomical Society Jordanian Astronomical Society
Nucleosynthesis in Stars
Nuclear Nuclear reactions reactions => Theory and EXPERIMENT.
Nuclear physics output => input for astrophysics.
Experimental challenges to reproduce and
measure stellar nuclear reactions in the laboratory.
Simplest Nucleosynthesis
Perspective on the National Nuclear
Debate Saed Dababneh JAS
22/03/2012 2
Stellar Evolution and Nucleosynthesis
Evolution depends
on mass.
Fusion nuclear
reactions.
Neutron capture
reactions.
3 Experimental Techniques in Nuclear Astrophysics Saed Dababneh JAS 27/09/2012
Stellar Evolution and Nucleosynthesis
4 Experimental Techniques in Nuclear Astrophysics Saed Dababneh JAS 27/09/2012
Nucleosynthesis Before and after iron!
5 Experimental Techniques in Nuclear Astrophysics Saed Dababneh JAS 27/09/2012
Thermonuclear Fusion Reactions - Slow
Coulomb Barrier
Nuclear
Potential
Tunneling
6 Experimental Techniques in Nuclear Astrophysics Saed Dababneh JAS 27/09/2012
He-burning T = 0.1 0.3 billion
degrees. kT = 10 30 keV.
300 600 keV is
astrophysically important for
some reactions.
Stellar Evolution and Nucleosynthesis
Hydrostatic equilibrium.
Mass distribution.
Chemical composition.
Energy production and transport.
Temperature gradient.
Astrophysical Models.
Thermonuclear reaction rates
are important input.
7 Experimental Techniques in Nuclear Astrophysics Saed Dababneh JAS 27/09/2012
are important input.
Resonances
Triple-alpha Process
Stability gap at A = 5, 8
Bottleneck at temperatures as low as
10 million K in MS stars.
At higher temperatures of 100 million K
in Red Giants
4
He +
4
He
8
Be
with high enough rate so that
8
Be +
4
He
12
C
*
8 Experimental Techniques in Nuclear Astrophysics Saed Dababneh JAS 27/09/2012
Be + He C


8
Be +
12
C
*
e
+
e
-
Resonance ?
T
9
= 0.1-0.3
Resonances
12
C +
T
9
= 0.1-0.3
No Resonance
9 Experimental Techniques in Nuclear Astrophysics Saed Dababneh JAS 27/09/2012
16
O
Survival of
12
C in Red Giants
No resonance near Gamow Window.
Direct capture and tails of broad
and subthreshold resonances.
Resonances
16
O +
T
9
= 0.1-0.3
0
+
2
+
4
+
2
-
3
-
10 Experimental Techniques in Nuclear Astrophysics Saed Dababneh JAS 27/09/2012
20
Ne
0
+
Blocking Reaction

16
O
20
Ne
24
Mg
28
Si . ??
Increase in Coulomb Barrier.
Properties of the resonances.
Only direct capture could
contribute, blocking He-burning
nucleosynthesis.
Advanced burning.
Neutron Sources
14
N( , )
18
F(
+
)
18
O( , )
22
Ne( ,n)
13
C( ,n)
22
Ne( ,n)
12
C(p, )
13
N(
+
)
13
C( ,n)
16
O
s- r-
11 Experimental Techniques in Nuclear Astrophysics Saed Dababneh JAS 27/09/2012
14
N( , )
18
F(
+
)
18
O( , )
22
Ne( ,n)
22
Ne( ,n)
Neutron Sources
12 Experimental Techniques in Nuclear Astrophysics Saed Dababneh JAS 27/09/2012
Neutron capture but neutron source is a fusion reaction.
What if ?!
the mass of
8
Be had not been close to the
mass of 2 alpha particles?
there were no enhancing resonant state in
12
C.?
there were no parity conservation law?
rates of neutron sources were different?
13 Experimental Techniques in Nuclear Astrophysics Saed Dababneh JAS 27/09/2012
rates of neutron sources were different?
.. ??????
NUCLEAR PHYSICS NUCLEAR PHYSICS
Experiments Small Scale
14 Experimental Techniques in Nuclear Astrophysics Saed Dababneh JAS 27/09/2012
Experiments Large Scale
15 Experimental Techniques in Nuclear Astrophysics Saed Dababneh JAS 27/09/2012
Experiments
Large investment.
Not only astrophysics!
ADS.
Gen. IV reactors.
Nuclear waste.
Th/U fuel cycle.
Medical and environmental.
16 Experimental Techniques in Nuclear Astrophysics Saed Dababneh JAS 27/09/2012
Medical and environmental.
All need neutron data. All need neutron data.
Experiments
BGO
Lead shield
Beam
BGO
Clover
Target
Plastic scintillator
17 Experimental Techniques in Nuclear Astrophysics Saed Dababneh JAS 27/09/2012
Lead shield
Experiments
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Low-energy ultra-weak resonance.
10 days beam on target.
19 Experimental Techniques in Nuclear Astrophysics Saed Dababneh JAS 27/09/2012
Thank You!