Proton Capture Reactions and Network Calculations on ⁴⁶Ti, ⁶⁴Zn, ¹¹⁴Sn and ¹¹⁶Sn Relevant to the rp-Process

Author

Ravin S. T. Kodikara, Western Michigan University

Date of Award

12-2010

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy

Department

Physics

First Advisor

Dr. Michael Famiano

Second Advisor

Dr. Dean Halderson

Third Advisor

Dr. Paul Pancella

Fourth Advisor

Dr. Pnina Ari-Gur

Abstract

The rp-process makes an important contribution to the stellar nucleosynthesis by producing many of the light proton rich nuclei. Successive proton captures on seed nuclei followed by occasional β-decays and electron captures are the key features of this mechanism. For a detailed rp-process analysis, proton capture cross sections and reaction rates are essential. However, the lack of experimental data forces the researcher to largely depend on statistical model predictions.

This dissertation research is an attempt to investigate the proton captures of four particular nuclides; ⁴⁶Ti, ⁶⁴Zn, ¹¹⁴Sn and ¹¹⁶Sn. At Western Michigan University Van de Graaff accelerator facility, target nuclides were irradiated using a proton beam with energy ranging from lMeV to 3.7MeV. The resulting gamma radiation was detected by HPGe detectors at a dedicated counting station.

Proton capture cross sections and astrophysical S-factors were measured and a good agreement between the experimental S-factor results and the NON-SMOKER predictions was observed, especially in the higher proton energies. With respect to reaction rates, NON-SMOKER predictions were much closer to the experimental results, while MOST code predictions were slightly higher than the actual experimental results.

Furthermore, a reaction network model code (GAMBLER) was used to simulate the stellar rp-process and photodisintegration reaction. Abundance distributions of ⁴⁷Ti, ⁴⁷V, ⁶⁵Zn, ⁶⁵Ga, ¹¹⁵Sn, ¹¹⁵Sb, ¹¹⁷Sn and ¹¹⁷Sb were calculated and compared with theoretical predictions. Comparison of experimental abundance results and theoretical predictions for above elements revealed sufficient correlation between them and proved the applicability of the network code in rp-process and photodisintegration simulations.

Access Setting

Dissertation-Open Access

Recommended Citation

Kodikara, Ravin S. T., "Proton Capture Reactions and Network Calculations on ⁴⁶Ti, ⁶⁴Zn, ¹¹⁴Sn and ¹¹⁶Sn Relevant to the rp-Process" (2010). Dissertations. 602.
https://scholarworks.wmich.edu/dissertations/602