Measuring the Eye of a Needle: 16O + n for Astrophysical Applications
Joseph Derkin
Graduate Student
Ohio University
The 16O(n,n) reaction is used to constrain the low-energy extrapolation of the 13C(α,n)16O reaction rate, and therefore impacts our understanding of neutron generation for the astrophysical slow neutron-capture process. Several narrow resonances in the 16O + n total cross section database have unresolved properties due to insufficient neutron energy resolution and compel further investigation. To mitigate these uncertainties, the Fixed Angle Short Trajectory (FAST) reaction-based neutron source was recently constructed at the Edwards Accelerator Laboratory at Ohio University. A novel feature of this station is the use of a sweeping DC voltage applied at the neutron production target location. Using this method, the primary ion beam is effectively “slowed down” and thereby modulates the energy of the secondary neutron beam. This presentation will describe the installation of the experimental apparatus relevant to the neutron transmission technique and discuss preliminary data from multiple commissioning experiments.
Hosted by Prof. Bardayan