Neutron Capture Cross Sections for Unstable Nuclei with Surrogate Reaction Data

• Activity Number: 309 - Bayesian Modeling in Physical Sciences and Engineering
• Type: Contributed
• Date/Time: Tuesday, July 31, 2018 : 8:30 AM to 10:20 AM
• Sponsor: Section on Bayesian Statistical Science
• Author(s): Kassie Fronczyk* and Jutta Escher
• Companies: Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
• Keywords: Nuclear Physics; Surrogate Rections; Cross Sections; Bayesian Modeling

Abstract

Neutron capture reactions play an important role in nuclear physics to understand physical processes in which neutrons react with their environment. However these reactions can rarely be measured directly. We use a method for extracting cross sections for neutron-capture on unstable isotopes from indirect (surrogate) measurements. The compound-nucleus formation via the surrogate reaction is described using theoretical underpinnings, then we leverage all available information with a Bayesian model for the subsequent decay. The comparison of measured and predicted coincidence data allows for the determination of parameters needed to calculate the unknown cross section.

LLNL-ABS-749458 This work performed under the auspices of the U.S. Department of Energy by Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory under Contract DE-AC52-07NA27344.