Faculty Mentor(s)
Dr. Paul A. DeYoung, Physics; Dr. Belen Monteagudo, Physics
Document Type
Poster
Event Date
4-12-2024
Abstract
The p process is believed to be responsible for the formation of heavy proton-rich nuclei in the universe. This work deals with the decay of two nuclei that are part of the p process, 53Ni and 52Co. β+ decays for each isotope were recorded with the Summing NaI(Tl) detector at the National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory. A preliminary β-decay Intensity Function was derived with Total Absorption Spectroscopy. Total energy spectra, β-particle spectra, individual γ-energy spectra, and multiplicity spectra for the decay to levels in the child nucleus were modeled with GEANT4 based on information from the National Nuclear Data Center. The experimentally measured spectra, when fit with the simulated spectra, give the probability that a particular child level is populated during decay. Refined results, when compared to theory, will provide insight into the formation of p-nuclei elements.
Recommended Citation
Repository citation: Balk, Gabe A.; Spyrou, A.; Smith, M. K.; and von Seeger, W., "β-decay Strength Function of 53Ni and 52Co" (2024). 23rd Annual A. Paul and Carol C. Schaap Celebration of Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity (2024). Paper 6.
https://digitalcommons.hope.edu/curca_23/6
April 12, 2024. Copyright © 2024 Hope College, Holland, Michigan.
Comments
This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. PHYS-2209138 and PHYS-1911418. Additional support was provided in part by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), under award number 80NSSC20M0124, Michigan Space Grant Consortium (MSGC).
Additional authors appear on poster that are not listed in the abstract booklet: A. Spyrou, M. K. Smith, and W. von Seeger.