Experimentally constrained ($p,\gamma$)$^{89}$Y and ($n,\gamma$)$^{89}$Y reaction rates relevant to the $p$-process nucleosynthesis

TL;DR

This study measures the nuclear properties of $^{89}$Y to improve reaction rate calculations relevant to the astrophysical p-process, revealing a low-energy gamma strength enhancement supported by shell-model calculations.

Contribution

It provides new experimental data on $^{89}$Y's level density and gamma strength function, and applies these to refine reaction rate predictions for nucleosynthesis models.

Findings

Observed low-energy gamma-ray strength enhancement in $^{89}$Y

Shell-model calculations support the enhancement as low-energy M1 transitions

Reaction rate calculations agree with available cross-section data

Abstract

The nuclear level density and the $\gamma$-ray strength function have been extracted for $^{89}$Y, using the Oslo Method on $^{89}$Y($p,p' \gamma$)$^{89}$Y coincidence data. The $\gamma$-ray strength function displays a low-energy enhancement consistent with previous observations in this mass region ($^{93-98}$Mo). Shell-model calculations give support that the observed enhancement is due to strong, low-energy $M1$ transitions at high excitation energies. The data were further used as input for calculations of the $^{88}$Sr($p,\gamma$)$^{89}$Y and $^{88}$Y($n,\gamma$)$^{89}$Y cross sections with the TALYS reaction code. Comparison with cross-section data, where available, as well as with values from the BRUSLIB library, shows a satisfying agreement.