Astrophysically Relevant Neutron Capture near the Border of Stability

Abstract

The neutron capture cross section on ${}^{26}$Mg was measured in the astrophysically relevant energy region from 25 keV to 220 keV. The experimental results agree well with a calculation using the Direct Capture (DC) model together with systematic folding potentials. This experiment confirms for the ${}^{26}$Mg(n,$\gamma$)${}^{27}$Mg reaction that the DC process is at least comparable to the Compound--Nucleus (CN) process. The reliability of DC calculations is discussed, and we present some ideas for future experiments which could reduce the theoretical uncertainties of DC calculations.

Comments: 7 pages (uses sprocl.sty and psfig.sty), 4 figures, Proc. "International Workshop on Research with Fission Fragments", Benediktbeuern, October 28-30, 1996, World Scientific, in press, uuencoded tex-files and postscript-files available at ftp://is1.kph.tuwien.ac.at/pub/ohu/Mg.uu