Partial cross sections of the $^{89}$Y(p,$gamma$)$^{90}$Zr reaction have been measured to investigate the $gamma$-ray strength function in the neutron-magic nucleus $^{90}$Zr. For five proton energies between $E_p=3.65$ MeV and $E_p=4.70$ MeV, partia
l cross sections for the population of seven discrete states in $^{90}$Zr have been determined by means of in-beam $gamma$-ray spectroscopy. Since these $gamma$-ray transitions are dominantly of $E1$ character, the present measurement allows an access to the low-lying dipole strength in $^{90}$Zr. A $gamma$-ray strength function based on the experimental data could be extracted, which is used to describe the total and partial cross sections of this reaction by Hauser-Feshbach calculations successfully. Significant differences with respect to previously measured strength functions from photoabsorption data point towards deviations from the Brink-Axel hypothesis relating the photo-excitation and de-excitation strength functions.
An extended database of experimental data is needed to address uncertainties of the nuclear-physics input parameters for Hauser-Feshbach calculations. Especially $alpha$+nucleus optical model potentials at low energies are not well known. The in-beam
technique with an array of high-purity germanium (HPGe) detectors was successfully applied to the measurement of absolute cross sections of an ($alpha$,$gamma$) reaction on a heavy nucleus at sub-Coulomb energies. The total and partial cross-section values were measured by means of in-beam $gamma$-ray spectroscopy. Total and partial cross sections were measured at four different $alpha$-particle energies from $E_alpha = 10.5$ MeV to $E_alpha = 12$ MeV. The measured total cross-section values are in excellent agreement with previous results obtained with the activation technique, which proves the validity of the applied method. The experimental data was compared to Hauser-Feshbach calculations using the nuclear reaction code TALYS. A modified version of the semi-microscopic $alpha$+nucleus optical model potential OMP 3, as well as modified proton and $gamma$ widths, are needed in order to obtain a good agreement between experimental data and theory. It is found, that a model using a local modification of the nuclear-physics input parameters simultaneously reproduces total cross sections of the $^{112}$Sn($alpha$,$gamma$) and $^{112}$Sn($alpha$,p) reactions. The measurement of partial cross sections turns out to be very important in this case in order to apply the correct $gamma$-ray strength function in the Hauser-Feshbach calculations. The model also reproduces cross-section values of $alpha$-induced reactions on $^{106}$Cd, as well as of ($alpha$,n) reactions on $^{115,116}$Sn, hinting at a more global character of the obtained nuclear-physics input.
A measurement of total cross-section values of the $^{130}$Ba(p,$gamma$)$^{131}$La reaction at low proton energies allows a stringent test of statistical model predictions with different proton+nucleus optical model potentials. Since no experimental
data are available for proton-capture reactions in this mass region around A~$approx$~130, this measurement can be an important input to test the global applicability of proton+nucleus optical model potentials. The total reaction cross-section values were measured by means of the activation method. After the irradiation with protons, the reaction yield was determined by use of $gamma$-ray spectroscopy using two clover-type high-purity germanium detectors. In total, cross-section values for eight different proton energies could be determined in the energy range between 3.6 MeV $leq E_p leq$ 5.0 MeV, thus, inside the astrophysically relevant energy region. The measured cross-section values were compared to Hauser-Feshbach calculations using the statistical model codes TALYS and SMARAGD with different proton+nucleus optical model potentials. With the semi-microscopic JLM proton+nucleus optical model potential used in the SMARAGD code, the absolute cross-section values are reproduced well, but the energy dependence is too steep at the lowest energies. The best description is given by a TALYS calculation using the semi-microscopic Bauge proton+nucleus optical model potential using a constant renormalization factor.
A dedicated setup for the in-beam measurement of absolute cross sections of astrophysically relevant charged-particle induced reactions is presented. These, usually very low, cross sections at energies of astrophysical interest are important to impro
ve the modeling of the nucleosynthesis processes of heavy nuclei. Particular emphasis is put on the production of the $p$ nuclei during the astrophysical $gamma$ process. The recently developed setup utilizes the high-efficiency $gamma$-ray spectrometer HORUS, which is located at the 10 MV FN tandem ion accelerator of the Institute for Nuclear Physics in Cologne. The design of this setup will be presented and results of the recently measured $^{89}$Y(p,$gamma$)$^{90}$Zr reaction will be discussed. The excellent agreement with existing data shows, that the HORUS spectrometer is a powerful tool to determine total and partial cross sections using the in-beam method with high-purity germanium detectors.
Cross sections for the 168Yb(alpha,gamma)172Hf and 168Yb(alpha,n)171$Hf reactions were measured by means of the activation method using alpha particles with energies between 12.9 MeV and 15.1 MeV. The spectroscopy of the gamma rays emitted by the rea
ction products was performed using three different HPGe detector types, namely clover-type high-purity germanium detectors, a low-energy photon spectrometer detector, and a coaxial high-purity germanium detector. The results were compared to Hauser-Feshbach statistical model calculations. Within certain assumptions, astrophysical conclusions could be drawn concerning the production of the p nucleus 168Yb. The data in this work can serve as a contribution to the current very fragmentary experimental data base for charged-particle induced reactions. In addition, the absolute intensity for nine gamma-ray transitions following the electron capture decay of 171Hf could be derived.
A measurement of 74Ge(p,gamma)75As at low proton energies, inside the astrophysically relevant energy region, is important in several respects. The reaction is directly important as it is a bottleneck in the reaction flow which produces the lightest
p nucleus 74Se. It is also an important addition to the data set required to test reaction-rate predictions and to allow an improvement in the global p+nucleus optical potential required in such calculations. An in-beam experiment was performed, making it possible to measure in the energy range between 2.1 and 3.7 MeV, which is for the most part inside the astrophysically relevant energy window. Angular distributions of the gamma-ray transitions were measured with high-purity germanium detectors at eight angles relative to the beam axis. In addition to the total cross sections, partial cross sections for the direct population of twelve levels were determined. The resulting cross sections were compared to Hauser-Feshbach calculations using the code SMARAGD. Only a constant renormalization factor of the calculated proton widths allowed a good reproduction of both total and partial cross sections. The accuracy of the calculation made it possible to check the spin assignment of some states in 75As. In the case of the 1075 keV state, a double state with spins and parities of 3/2- and 5/2- is needed to explain the experimental partial cross sections. A change in parity from 5/2+ to 5/2- is required for the state at 401 keV. Furthermore, in the case of 74Ge, studying the combination of total and partial cross sections made it possible to test the gamma width, which is essential in the calculation of the astrophysical 74$As(n,gamma)75As rate.
