Nuclear Seminar

Photon-induced reactions for nuclear astrophysics

Dr. Kerstin Sonnabend
University of Notre Dame
and
TU Darmstadt, Germany

Monday, September 7, 2009   4:00 p.m.   NSH 124
(Refreshments served prior to seminar in NSH 124)

Photodisintegration reactions – like (g,n), (g,p), and (g,a) -  play an important role in the nucleosynthesis of the so called r nuclei.  As the extensive network calculations rely on theoretical predictions of the corresponding rates it is mandatory to test the reliability of the underlying Hauser-Feshbach calculations.  The method of activation is a high sensitive technique to perform the required systematic studies.  Additionally, the measurement of photodisintegration cross sections yields information about the inverse reaction.  Therefore, the neutron capture cross sections of the short-lived branching points of s-process nucleosynthesis become accessible to experimental studies.  Recent results and future plans will be presented.