Direct measurement of the 103Rh(n,gamma) and 103Rh(gamma,n) cross section up to stellar temperatures at the CSNS Back-n and SSRF SLEGS

TL;DR

This paper reports new measurements of 103Rh(n,gamma) and 103Rh(gamma,n) cross sections across a wide energy range, providing valuable data for astrophysics, nuclear technology, and medical isotope applications.

Contribution

It presents the first detailed resonance structure data for 103Rh(n,gamma) and precise gamma-induced reaction cross sections, improving nuclear data libraries and models.

Findings

New resonance structures identified for 103Rh(n,gamma)

Cross sections measured with less than 5% uncertainty for 103Rh(gamma,n)

Discrepancies found between experimental data and evaluated libraries

Abstract

The cross sections of 103Rh(n,gamma) and 103Rh(gamma,n) play a crucial role in the stellar nucleosynthesis, rhodium-based self-powered neutron detectors, and nuclear medicine. The cross sections of 103Rh(n,gamma) was measured by the time-of-flight(TOF) method from 1 eV to 1000 keV at the Back-n facility of the Chinese Spallation Neutron Source. In the resolved resonance region, the data reported multiple new resonance structures for the first time. And some discrepancies were observed, offering valuable insights into the differences between the evaluated libraries. Maxwellian-averaged cross sections (MACSs) were calculated within the temperature range of the s process nucleosynthesis model, based on the averaged cross sections in the unresolved resonance region. Meanwhile the cross sections of 103Rh(gamma,n) within the range of p process nucleosynthesis were measured using laser Compton scattering (LCS) gamma rays and a new neutron flat efficiency detector (FED) array at the Shanghai Laser Electron Gamma Source (SLEGS), Shanghai Synchrotron Radiation Facility (SSRF). Using an unfolding iteration method, 103Rh(gamma,n) data were obtained with uncertainty less than 5%, and the inconsistencies between the available experimental data and the evaluated libraries were discussed. This study provides a reliable benchmark for nuclear data evaluation and model optimization, and lays a solid foundation for Rh medical isotope applications and astrophysical research.