Low Energy measurement of the $^{96}\mathrm{Zr}(\alpha,n)^{99}\mathrm{Mo}$ reaction cross section and its impact on weak r-process nucleosynthesis

TL;DR

This study measures the $^{96}$Zr($ ext{α}$,n)$^{99}$Mo reaction cross section at energies relevant for the weak r-process, reducing uncertainties in nucleosynthesis models and improving predictions of element formation in supernovae.

Contribution

First experimental cross section measurement of $^{96}$Zr($ ext{α}$,n)$^{99}$Mo at weak r-process energies, testing and refining reaction models for nucleosynthesis.

Findings

Reaction rate uncertainties are significantly reduced.

Nucleosynthesis yields for Z=44-48 are now more precisely constrained.

Model predictions align better with experimental data.

Abstract

Lighter heavy elements beyond iron and up to around silver can form in neutrino-driven ejecta in core-collapse supernovae and neutron star mergers. Slightly neutron-rich conditions favour a weak r-process that follows a path close to stability. Therefore, the beta decays are slow compared to the expansion time scales, and ($\alpha$,n) reactions become critical to move matter towards heavier nuclei. The rates of these reactions are calculated with the statistical model and their main uncertainty, at energies relevant for the weak r-process, is the $\alpha$+nucleus optical potential. There are several sets of parameters to calculate the $\alpha$+nucleus optical potential leading to large deviations for the reaction rates, exceeding even one order of magnitude. Recently the $^{96}$Zr($\alpha$,n)$^{99}$Mo reaction has been identified as a key reaction that impacts the production of elements from Ru to Cd. Here, we present the first cross section measurement of this reaction at energies (6.22 MeV $\leq$ E$_\mathrm{c.m.}$ $\leq$ 12.47 MeV) relevant for the weak r-process. The new data provide a stringent test of various model predictions which is necessary to improve the precision of the weak r-process network calculations. The strongly reduced reaction rate uncertainty leads to very well-constrained nucleosynthesis yields for $Z = 44 - 48$ isotopes under different neutrino-driven wind conditions.