Statistical Hauser-Feshbach Model Description of (n,α) Reaction Cross Sections for the Weak s-Process

The (n,α) reaction contributes in many processes of energy generation and nucleosynthesis in stellar environment. Since experimental data are available for a limited number of nuclei and in restricted energy ranges, at present only theoretical studies can provide predictions for all astrophysically relevant (n,α) reaction cross sections. The purpose of this work is to study (n,α) reaction cross sections for a set of nuclei contributing in the weak s-process nucleosynthesis. Theory framework is based on the statistical Hauser-Feshbach model implemented in TALYS code with nuclear masses and level densities based on Skyrme energy density functional. In addition to the analysis of the properties of calculated (n,α) cross sections, the Maxwellian averaged cross sections are described and analyzed for the range of temperatures in stellar environment. Model calculations determined astrophysically relevant energy windows in which (n,α) reactions occur in stars. In order to reduce the uncertainties in modeling (n,α) reaction cross sections for the s-process, novel experimental studies are called for. Presented results on the effective energy windows for (n,α) reaction in weak s-process provide a guidance for the priority energy ranges in the future experimental studies.

Nuclear level densities away from line of β-stability

The variation of total nuclear level densities (NLDs) and level density parameters with proton number Z are studied around the β-stable isotope, Z0, for a given mass number. We perform our analysis for a mass range A=40 to 180 using the NLDs from popularly used databases obtained with the single-particle energies from two different microsopic mass-models. These NLDs which include microscopic structural effects such as collective enhancement, pairing and shell corrections, do not exhibit inverted parabolic trend with a strong peak at Z0 as predicted earlier. We also compute the NLDs using the single-particle energies from macroscopic-microscopic mass-model. Once the collective and pairing effects are ignored, the inverted parabolic trends of NLDs and the corresponding level density parameters become somewhat visible. Nevertheless, the factor that governs the (Z-Z0) dependence of the level density parameter, leading to the inverted parabolic trend, is found to be smaller by an order of magnitude. We further find that the (Z-Z0) dependence of NLDs is quite sensitive to the shell effects.

Statistical Fluctuations of Energy Spectra in the Isobar A = 68 Nuclei

Statistical fluctuations of nuclear energy spectra for the isobar A = 68 were examined by means of the random matrix theory together with the nuclear shell model. The isobar A = 68 nuclei are suggested to consist of an inert core of 56Ni with 12 nucleons in f5p-space (2p3/2, 1f5/2 and 2p1/2 orbitals). The nuclear excitation energies, required by this work, were obtained through performing f5p-shell model calculations using the isospin formalism f5pvh interaction with realistic single particle energies. All calculations of the present study were conducted using the OXBASH code. The calculated level densities were found to have a Gaussian shape. The distributions of level spacing P(s) and statistic for the considered classes of states, obtained with full Hamiltonian of f5pvh (absence of the off-diagonal Hamiltonian) calculations, showed a chaotic (regular) behavior and coincided well with the distribution of Gaussian orthogonal ensemble (Poisson). Moreover, these distributions were independent of spin (J) and isospin (T)

Energy sharing based on microscopic level densities

The transformation of a moderately excited heavy nucleus into two excited fission fragments is modeled as a strongly damped evolution of the nuclear shape. The resulting Brownian motion in the multi-dimensional deformation space is guided by the shape-dependent level density which has been calculated microscopically for each of nearly ten million shapes (given in the three-quadratic-surfaces parametrization) by using a previously developed combinatorial method that employs the same single-particle levels as those used for the calculation of the pairing and shell contributions to the five-dimensional macroscopic-microscopic potential-energy surface. The stochastic shape evolution is followed until a small critical neck radius is reached, at which point the mass, charge, and shape of the two proto-fragments are extracted. The available excitation energy is divided statistically on the basis of the microscopic level densities associated with the two distorted fragments. Specific fragment structure features may cause the distribution of the energy disvision to deviate significantly from expectations based on a Fermi-gas level density. After their formation at scission, the initially distorted fragments are being accelerated by their mutual Coulomb repulsion as their shapes relax to their equilibrium forms. The associated distortion energy is converted to additional excitation energy in the fully accelerated fragments. These subsequently undergo sequential neutron evaporation which is calculated using again the appropriate microscopic level densities. The resulting dependence of the mean neutron multiplicity on the fragment mass, as well as the dependence of on the initial excitation energy of the fissioning compound nucleus, exhibit features that are similar to the experimentally observed behavior, suggesting that the microscopic energy sharing mechanism plays an important role in low-energy fission.

Ratios of negative-to-positive parity level densities in Mo isotopes

The ratios of negative-to-positive parity level densities in ^94,96,98Mo isotopes are calculated using a microscopic formalism based on the BCS model. In this calculation, the single-particle energies are obtained with the Nilsson model. Mass number, shell and deformation effects on the parity equilibration phenomena in these isotopes are discussed in this work.

Parity equilibration in nuclear level densities of 159–166Dy

Excitation-energy dependent parity ratios in the level densities of [Formula: see text] isotopes are calculated within a microscopic approach. Introducing a parity equilibration parameter, energy dependence of the transition from where a single parity dominates to a parity equilibrated state is compared among [Formula: see text] isotopes and its relation to the pairing effect is investigated. A correlation between the pair-breaking and the equilibration of parity distributions is observed for the considered isotopes.