New measurement of 63Cu(γ, n)62Cu cross section using quasi monoenergetic γ ray beam
image: The β+ decay process of 62Cu is an alternative pathway for the synthesis of the "iron group element" 62Ni, and knowledge of the radiative neutron capture reaction 62Cu(n, γ) can help us understand the nucleosynthesis of intermediate-mass elements.
Credit: Wen Luo
Researchers from the University of South China and the Shanghai Advanced Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Sciences achieved precise measurements of the 63Cu(γ, n) reaction cross-section through advanced quasi-monochromatic γ-beams. They resolved the long-standing discrepancies in the cross-section data and for the first time extracted the experimentally constrained cross-section data of the 62Cu(n,γ) reaction for short-lived nuclides. The research findings have important scientific and practical values for further improving the nuclear reaction database and promoting the in-depth application of nuclear technology in multidisciplinary fields.
Resolving the Long-Standing Data Discrepancy Problem
In this study, researchers utilized the quasi-monochromatic and energy-tunable γ -beams generated by the SLEGS. Within the energy range of 11.1-19.7 MeV, they obtained high-precision reaction data for 63Cu(γ, n) with an uncertainty of less than 4% through the unfolding iteration method. By comparing and analyzing the new data with previous experimental and evaluated data, and calculating the integral cross-section, the researchers further clarified the data differences. This provides a strong basis for resolving the long-standing inconsistencies in the 63Cu(γ, n) reaction data.
Facilitating the Research on Neutron Capture Cross-Sections of Unstable Nuclides
Based on the newly measured data of the 63Cu(γ, n) reaction, the research team successfully extracted the γSF of the 63Cu(γ, n) reaction. By using the TALYS code and combining with the optimized Brink-Axel Lorentzian model, they calculated the cross-section of the 62Cu(n, γ) reaction. This achievement provides a novel calculation method for extracting the neutron capture cross-sections of some unstable nuclides, which is conducive to in-depth research on the properties of unstable nuclides and the mechanisms of nuclear reactions.
Promoting Multidisciplinary Development
The research findings offer significant support for the measurement and evaluation of photonuclear reaction data. Precise photo-neutron cross-section data and γSF not only contribute to the improvement of photonuclear reaction theoretical models but also provide more reliable data references for related experiments, driving photonuclear reaction research towards higher precision.
In the medical field, accurate 63Cu(γ,n) reaction cross-section data facilitate the more efficient and precise preparation of the 62Cu isotope used for positron emission tomography (PET) imaging.
In the field of astrophysics, the study of the 62Cu(n,γ) reaction cross-section helps to deeply understand the nucleosynthesis process of intermediate-mass elements, providing crucial clues for explaining the origin and evolution of elements in the universe.
The complete study is accessible via DOI: 10.1007/s41365-024-01631-x.