Periodic Reporting for period 2 - SHADES (Scintillator-He3 Array for Deep-underground Experiments on the S-process)
Periodo di rendicontazione: 2021-08-01 al 2023-01-31
A crucial source of neutrons in stars is the nuclear reaction Ne-22(alpha,n)Mg-25, of major importance for the synthesis of heavy elements. Currently there is an established picture of the astrophysical scenario but only limited availability of reliable experimental data, with several key ingredients under dispute. SHADES will perform a direct measurement of the reaction to resolve the main. The goal is to decrease the uncertainty in the astrophysical reaction rate in the relevant temperature range by at least one order of magnitude, providing a significant leap ahead from the state of the art. SHADES will deliver an increase in sensitivity of more than two orders of magnitude over the state of the art. We will gather direct experimental data over the entire astrophysically relevant energy range. We will construct a neutron detector specifically designed for this measurement. Beam-induced background, a severe problem in the past, will be discriminated by measuring the neutron energy while still maintaining a very detection high efficiency. In recent years research on capture-gated techniques and combinations of different detector types to measure neutron energies has increased greatly. The novel detector array will perfectly fit this profile and find a large field of applications also outside of nuclear astrophysics. The main measurements will be done with the new accelerator LUNA MV, allowing long-term high-intensity, high-energy resolution alpha bombardments. An extended, recirculating gas target will guarantee target stability under intense ion beams. The location of the experiment deep underground will drastically reduce the external background, the main limiting factor so far for low-energy measurements. In my team there will be also leading experts in the field to update the current stellar models using the new dataset to provide a greatly improved and much more robust picture of this important branch of stellar nucleosynthesis.
The team has been assembled and constructed all required components for the project. We participated in a astrophysical study, highlighting the need for more data, which we will provide at the end of the project. Notwithstanding Covid-related problems we successfully assembled the detector array, performed calibration measurements and recently completed the first underground measurement of the scintillator background, which will be part of a PhD thesis; a publication is being prepared. First characterisation measurements of the array have been done with a neutron beam. The gas target is ready for a characterisation campaign in Q3 2022.
Junior members of the team participated in a review publication, to which they provided material for a section for the nuclear reaction under investigation in SHADES.
Junior members of the team participated in a review publication, to which they provided material for a section for the nuclear reaction under investigation in SHADES.
Ultra-low background measurement of the intrinsic alpha background of the EJ-301 scintillator. First characterisation measurement of the coupled array with fine steps in neutron energy.
Expected results are the full characterisation of the combined array, the detailed characterisation of the gas target and finally the measurement of the Ne22(a,n) cross section and analysis of its astrophysical impact.
Expected results are the full characterisation of the combined array, the detailed characterisation of the gas target and finally the measurement of the Ne22(a,n) cross section and analysis of its astrophysical impact.