# Stellar ($n,\gamma$) cross section of $^{23}$Na

## TL;DR

This study measured the neutron capture cross section of $^{23}$Na at specific energies, finding lower values than previous reports, which impacts models of stellar nucleosynthesis.

## Contribution

The paper provides new, more accurate measurements of the $^{23}$Na($n,\gamma$)$^{24}$Na cross section at astrophysically relevant energies, revising previous data and improving nucleosynthesis models.

## Key findings

- Measured cross sections at $kT=5.1$ and 25 keV are significantly lower than literature values.
- Revised the radiative width of the first $^{23}$Na resonance.
- Established an improved set of Maxwellian average cross sections.

## Abstract

The cross section of the $^{23}$Na($n, \gamma$)$^{24}$Na reaction has been measured via the activation method at the Karlsruhe 3.7 MV Van de Graaff accelerator. NaCl samples were exposed to quasistellar neutron spectra at $kT=5.1$ and 25 keV produced via the $^{18}$O($p, n$)$^{18}$F and $^{7}$Li($p, n$)$^{7}$Be reactions, respectively. The derived capture cross sections $\langle\sigma\rangle_{\rm kT=5 keV}=9.1\pm0.3$ mb and $\langle\sigma\rangle_{\rm kT=25 keV}=2.03 \pm 0.05$ mb are significantly lower than reported in literature. These results were used to substantially revise the radiative width of the first $^{23}$Na resonance and to establish an improved set of Maxwellian average cross sections. The implications of the lower capture cross section for current models of $s$-process nucleosynthesis are discussed.