Towards an Experimental Determination of the Transition Strength Between the Ground States of $^{20}$F and $^{20}$Ne

TL;DR

This paper discusses the development of an experimental setup to measure the transition strength between the ground states of $^{20}$F and $^{20}$Ne, which is important for understanding electron capture in stellar evolution.

Contribution

It introduces a refurbished magnetic spectrometer and a new scintillator detector setup designed to measure the second-forbidden transition strength.

Findings

Design of a focused electron spectrometer for 7 MeV electrons

Implementation of a scintillator detector with cosmic-ray veto

Preparation for experimental measurement of transition strength

Abstract

Electron capture on $^{20}$Ne is thought to play a crucial role in the final evolution of electron-degenerate ONe stellar cores. Recent calculations suggest that the capture process is dominated by the second-forbidden transition between the ground states of $^{20}$Ne and $^{20}$F, making an experimental determination of this transition strength highly desirable. To accomplish this task we are refurbishing an intermediate-image magnetic spectrometer capable of focusing 7 MeV electrons, and designing a scintillator detector surrounded by an active cosmic-ray veto shield, which will serve as an energy-dispersive device at the focal plane.