Measurements of $^{152}$Gd(p,$\gamma$)$^{153}$Tb and $^{152}$Gd(p,n)$^{152}$Tb reaction cross sections for the astrophysical $\gamma$ process

TL;DR

This study measured the cross sections of specific proton-induced reactions on Gd-152 relevant to the astrophysical gamma process, providing experimental data that supports a modified optical potential model.

Contribution

The paper provides new experimental cross section data for Gd-152 reactions, validating and supporting a modified optical potential model for better astrophysical reaction rate predictions.

Findings

Measured cross sections at specified energies for both reactions.

Experimental data supports a modified optical proton+$^{152}$Gd potential.

Results align with statistical model predictions.

Abstract

The total cross sections for the $^{152}$Gd(p,$\gamma$)$^{153}$Tb and $^{152}$Gd(p,n)$^{152}$Tb reactions have been measured by the activation method at effective center-of-mass energies \mbox{$3.47 \leq E_\mathrm{c.m.}^\mathrm{eff}\leq 7.94$ MeV} and \mbox{$4.96 \leq E_\mathrm{c.m.}^\mathrm{eff} \leq 7.94$ MeV}, respectively. The targets were prepared by evaporation of 30.6\% isotopically enriched $^{152}$Gd oxide on aluminum backing foils, and bombarded with proton beams provided by a cyclotron accelerator. The cross sections were deduced from the observed $\gamma$-ray activity, which was detected off-line by a HPGe detector in a low background environment. The results are presented and compared with predictions of statistical model calculations. This comparison supports a modified optical proton+$^{152}$Gd potential suggested earlier.