Loens, Hans Peter (2011)
Microscopic radiative strength functions and fission barriers for r-process nucleosynthesis.
Technische Universität Darmstadt
Dissertation, Erstveröffentlichung
Kurzbeschreibung (Abstract)
Nuclear astrophysics aims to answer the fundamental question of the origins of the elements in the universe, and relatedly to address the role of nuclear reactions as engines of stellar evolution, dynamics, and explosion. Nuclear astrophysics is thus a true interdisciplinary field combining astrophysics with nuclear physics. In this thesis we focus on the r-process, which is considered to form about half of the elements with nucleon numbers A>70. In order to perform simulations of the r-process, different astrophysical and nuclear physics input is needed. One of the crucial inputs on the nuclear physics side are cross sections for radiative neutron capture and induced fission reactions. Most of the r-process isotopes are very neutron-rich and could not yet be produced experimentally. Therefore we have to employ theoretical predictions for the cross sections. These cross sections are generally calculated with the Hauser-Feshbach model. To employ the statistical model to the determination of radiative capture reactions, one needs radiative strength functions. Generally E1 and M1 transitions dominate in r-process reactions. The strength functions are needed on a global scale and one has used a Lorentzian parametrisation for the strength functions motivated by the success of describing the electric giant dipole resonance by such a form. This turned out to be successful for nuclei close to stability. However, it has been observed that neutron-rich nuclei show enhanced E1 strength at energies far below the giant resonance, which is not correctly described by the Lorentzian ansatz. We will study the influence of such low-lying strength on cross sections relevant for r-process nucleosynthesis. Moreover, the Hauser-Feshbach model needs the strength functions also for excited states. Here one usually makes the bold approximation that the strength for all excited states is the same as for the ground state. This assumption goes with the name of Brink’s hypothesis. It was originally formulated for giant collective resonances and has been verified experimentally for these collective modes. It is an open question if it is also valid for the aforementioned additional strength. In this thesis we utilise two microscopic nuclear structure models to obtain the strength functions for selected nuclei. For the electric dipole strength function we adopt the relativistic-quasi-time-blocking approximation (RQTBA) and for the magnetic dipole strength the nuclear shell model. We calculated radiative neutron capture cross sections with the Hauser-Feshbach model using the results of the RQTBA model for chains of tin and nickel isotopes. The results show that additional low-energy strength from a pygmy resonance can affect the radiative neutron capture cross section. However, the impact of such low-lying E1 strength on radiative neutron capture cross sections turns up to be very sensitive to the interplay of the neutron separation energy and the nuclear level density. Generally, the RQTBA strength functions predict smaller radiative neutron capture cross sections than those obtained from a Lorentzian parametrisation. In a second approach, we calculated magnetic dipole strength functions from the interacting shell model for iron nuclei. The shell model allows us to obtain the strength functions also for excited states, thus enabling us to discuss Brink’s hypothesis for the M1 strength function. This hypothesis is theoretically confirmed by our results for the large collective spin-flip resonance. However, the hypothesis fails for the low-energy strength, in particular the scissors mode. We find noticeable differences to cross section calculations where often used parametrisations of the M1 strength are employed, indicating that an improved description of M1 strength functions is needed. The r-process can also reach the region of the nuclear chart, where fission becomes important. Hence, the various fission processes must be included in r-process simulations. To describe such processes, fission barriers are essential. We calculated fission barriers for even-even nuclei within the Skyrme-Hartree-functional and the role of reflection asymmetric shapes in nuclei. The results show a strong dependence on the used Skyrme functional regarding the barrier heights. Hence we expect noticeable differences in the rates of the various fission processes, if calculated with the different fission barriers. This will in turn affect r-process network simulations as fission can interrupt the r-process flow and move matter from the actinide or super-heavy regions to intermediate mass regions. Fock-BCS model. A particular focus is put on the sensitivity of these quantities to the used Skyrme functional and the role of reflection asymmetric shapes in nuclei. The results show a strong dependence on the used Skyrme functional regarding the barrier heights. Hence we expect noticeable differences in the rates of the various fission processes, if calculated with the different fission barriers. This will in turn affect r-process network simulations as fission can interrupt the r-process flow and move matter from the actinide or super-heavy regions to intermediate mass regions. Therefore also the formation of long-lived super-heavy elements in the r-process is very sensitive to the interaction used to calculate the fission barriers.
Typ des Eintrags: | Dissertation | ||||
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Erschienen: | 2011 | ||||
Autor(en): | Loens, Hans Peter | ||||
Art des Eintrags: | Erstveröffentlichung | ||||
Titel: | Microscopic radiative strength functions and fission barriers for r-process nucleosynthesis | ||||
Sprache: | Englisch | ||||
Referenten: | Langanke, Prof. Dr. K. ; Enders, Prof. Dr. J. | ||||
Publikationsjahr: | 26 Juli 2011 | ||||
Datum der mündlichen Prüfung: | 24 Februar 2011 | ||||
URL / URN: | urn:nbn:de:tuda-tuprints-26957 | ||||
Kurzbeschreibung (Abstract): | Nuclear astrophysics aims to answer the fundamental question of the origins of the elements in the universe, and relatedly to address the role of nuclear reactions as engines of stellar evolution, dynamics, and explosion. Nuclear astrophysics is thus a true interdisciplinary field combining astrophysics with nuclear physics. In this thesis we focus on the r-process, which is considered to form about half of the elements with nucleon numbers A>70. In order to perform simulations of the r-process, different astrophysical and nuclear physics input is needed. One of the crucial inputs on the nuclear physics side are cross sections for radiative neutron capture and induced fission reactions. Most of the r-process isotopes are very neutron-rich and could not yet be produced experimentally. Therefore we have to employ theoretical predictions for the cross sections. These cross sections are generally calculated with the Hauser-Feshbach model. To employ the statistical model to the determination of radiative capture reactions, one needs radiative strength functions. Generally E1 and M1 transitions dominate in r-process reactions. The strength functions are needed on a global scale and one has used a Lorentzian parametrisation for the strength functions motivated by the success of describing the electric giant dipole resonance by such a form. This turned out to be successful for nuclei close to stability. However, it has been observed that neutron-rich nuclei show enhanced E1 strength at energies far below the giant resonance, which is not correctly described by the Lorentzian ansatz. We will study the influence of such low-lying strength on cross sections relevant for r-process nucleosynthesis. Moreover, the Hauser-Feshbach model needs the strength functions also for excited states. Here one usually makes the bold approximation that the strength for all excited states is the same as for the ground state. This assumption goes with the name of Brink’s hypothesis. It was originally formulated for giant collective resonances and has been verified experimentally for these collective modes. It is an open question if it is also valid for the aforementioned additional strength. In this thesis we utilise two microscopic nuclear structure models to obtain the strength functions for selected nuclei. For the electric dipole strength function we adopt the relativistic-quasi-time-blocking approximation (RQTBA) and for the magnetic dipole strength the nuclear shell model. We calculated radiative neutron capture cross sections with the Hauser-Feshbach model using the results of the RQTBA model for chains of tin and nickel isotopes. The results show that additional low-energy strength from a pygmy resonance can affect the radiative neutron capture cross section. However, the impact of such low-lying E1 strength on radiative neutron capture cross sections turns up to be very sensitive to the interplay of the neutron separation energy and the nuclear level density. Generally, the RQTBA strength functions predict smaller radiative neutron capture cross sections than those obtained from a Lorentzian parametrisation. In a second approach, we calculated magnetic dipole strength functions from the interacting shell model for iron nuclei. The shell model allows us to obtain the strength functions also for excited states, thus enabling us to discuss Brink’s hypothesis for the M1 strength function. This hypothesis is theoretically confirmed by our results for the large collective spin-flip resonance. However, the hypothesis fails for the low-energy strength, in particular the scissors mode. We find noticeable differences to cross section calculations where often used parametrisations of the M1 strength are employed, indicating that an improved description of M1 strength functions is needed. The r-process can also reach the region of the nuclear chart, where fission becomes important. Hence, the various fission processes must be included in r-process simulations. To describe such processes, fission barriers are essential. We calculated fission barriers for even-even nuclei within the Skyrme-Hartree-functional and the role of reflection asymmetric shapes in nuclei. The results show a strong dependence on the used Skyrme functional regarding the barrier heights. Hence we expect noticeable differences in the rates of the various fission processes, if calculated with the different fission barriers. This will in turn affect r-process network simulations as fission can interrupt the r-process flow and move matter from the actinide or super-heavy regions to intermediate mass regions. Fock-BCS model. A particular focus is put on the sensitivity of these quantities to the used Skyrme functional and the role of reflection asymmetric shapes in nuclei. The results show a strong dependence on the used Skyrme functional regarding the barrier heights. Hence we expect noticeable differences in the rates of the various fission processes, if calculated with the different fission barriers. This will in turn affect r-process network simulations as fission can interrupt the r-process flow and move matter from the actinide or super-heavy regions to intermediate mass regions. Therefore also the formation of long-lived super-heavy elements in the r-process is very sensitive to the interaction used to calculate the fission barriers. |
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Alternatives oder übersetztes Abstract: |
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Sachgruppe der Dewey Dezimalklassifikatin (DDC): | 500 Naturwissenschaften und Mathematik > 530 Physik | ||||
Fachbereich(e)/-gebiet(e): | 05 Fachbereich Physik > Institut für Kernphysik 05 Fachbereich Physik |
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Hinterlegungsdatum: | 11 Aug 2011 12:42 | ||||
Letzte Änderung: | 05 Mär 2013 09:51 | ||||
PPN: | |||||
Referenten: | Langanke, Prof. Dr. K. ; Enders, Prof. Dr. J. | ||||
Datum der mündlichen Prüfung / Verteidigung / mdl. Prüfung: | 24 Februar 2011 | ||||
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