Experimental Facilities at iThemba LABS and Measurements to Constrain. . .
319
2.4 Fast Neutron Beams
The iThemba LABS fast neutron beam facility can provide quasi-mono-energetic
neutron beams of energies between 30 and 200 MeV, using the (p,n) reaction on
thin Li and Be targets. The neutron beam line is currently one of the few facilities
in the world that can provide quasi-mono-energetic neutron beams up to 200 MeV.
The neutron beam line is currently undergoing significant upgrades with the
goal of reducing neutron backgrounds to further improve conditions for metrology
and neutron physics measurements. The improvements include an enhancement of
available beam diagnostics, improved target system, beam dump, extension of the
16 degree flight path, as well as the rearrangement of shielding blocks. The upgrade
is expected to be completed in 2019.
3 Experimental Measurements
Two of the main experimental projects focus on the development of innovative
techniques for characterizing the quasi-continuum through the measurement of the
PSF, NLD, and the PDR which will provide new opportunities for nuclear structure
and astrophysics studies. The significant developments of new and existing experimental infrastructure with the addition of new detector technologies at iThemba
LABS (see sect. 2) make it possible to embark on research programs with impact
on the fields of nuclear structure and astrophysics. Results from measurements of
the NLD and PSF (together with its resonances) allow for interesting investigations
into the nucleosynthesis processes and can provide constraints of processes for the
production of individual nuclei. Some examples of key experimental measurements,
results, and conclusions are now summarized.
3.1 PSF and NLD from Inverse Kinematic Reactions
iThemba LABS in collaboration with other institutes has conceived and developed
a novel technique to extract the shape of the PSF which relies on the combined
detection of particles, primary high-energy as well as low-energy discrete γ-ray
transitions [2, 3]. This initial effort to fully characterize the PSF was recently
enhanced at iThemba LABS through the first measurement of the NLD and PSF
using inverse kinematics with the 86 Kr(d,p) reaction and analyzed with the Oslo
Method [4]. The success of this Inverse-Oslo approach makes it possible to measure
the NLD and PSF of nuclei, which were previously inaccessible, either due to
their chemical or physical properties or their radioactive character, and provides
complementary access and information to other methods.
319
2.4 Fast Neutron Beams
The iThemba LABS fast neutron beam facility can provide quasi-mono-energetic
neutron beams of energies between 30 and 200 MeV, using the (p,n) reaction on
thin Li and Be targets. The neutron beam line is currently one of the few facilities
in the world that can provide quasi-mono-energetic neutron beams up to 200 MeV.
The neutron beam line is currently undergoing significant upgrades with the
goal of reducing neutron backgrounds to further improve conditions for metrology
and neutron physics measurements. The improvements include an enhancement of
available beam diagnostics, improved target system, beam dump, extension of the
16 degree flight path, as well as the rearrangement of shielding blocks. The upgrade
is expected to be completed in 2019.
3 Experimental Measurements
Two of the main experimental projects focus on the development of innovative
techniques for characterizing the quasi-continuum through the measurement of the
PSF, NLD, and the PDR which will provide new opportunities for nuclear structure
and astrophysics studies. The significant developments of new and existing experimental infrastructure with the addition of new detector technologies at iThemba
LABS (see sect. 2) make it possible to embark on research programs with impact
on the fields of nuclear structure and astrophysics. Results from measurements of
the NLD and PSF (together with its resonances) allow for interesting investigations
into the nucleosynthesis processes and can provide constraints of processes for the
production of individual nuclei. Some examples of key experimental measurements,
results, and conclusions are now summarized.
3.1 PSF and NLD from Inverse Kinematic Reactions
iThemba LABS in collaboration with other institutes has conceived and developed
a novel technique to extract the shape of the PSF which relies on the combined
detection of particles, primary high-energy as well as low-energy discrete γ-ray
transitions [2, 3]. This initial effort to fully characterize the PSF was recently
enhanced at iThemba LABS through the first measurement of the NLD and PSF
using inverse kinematics with the 86 Kr(d,p) reaction and analyzed with the Oslo
Method [4]. The success of this Inverse-Oslo approach makes it possible to measure
the NLD and PSF of nuclei, which were previously inaccessible, either due to
their chemical or physical properties or their radioactive character, and provides
complementary access and information to other methods.