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B. R. Zikhali

Publications and source records attributed to B. R. Zikhali.

2 recordsLinked to original sources

Statistical properties of $^{133}$Xe and the $^{132}$Xe$(n,γ)$ cross section

$^{133}$Xe is an interesting case for plasma physics to explore nuclear excitation by electron capture, as the process can be studied using statistical properties of $^{133}$Xe. In this work we present results on $^{133}$Xe from the inverse-Oslo method where we extract the nuclear level density and the $γ$-strength function, which is used to calculate the (n,$γ$) cross section on $^{132}$Xe. The $γ$-strength function of $^{133}$Xe can constrain the estimated decay rate from nuclear excitation by electron capture. The $\mathrm{d}(^{132}\mathrm{Xe},\mathrm{p})^{132}\mathrm{Xe}$ reaction was used to create the compound nucleus $^{133}$Xe, which was recorded with an annular particle telescope and a scintillator array consisting of \la and BGO-shielded HPGe Clover detectors. With the inverse-Oslo method, it is possible to study nuclei that are impossible or unable to manufacture targets from, short lived isotopes, or as in this work, noble gases. We present the extracted nuclear level density, and $γ$-strength function for $^{133}$Xe, along with shell-model calculations of the statistical properties of $^{133}$Xe. These are the first statistical properties extracted below 6 MeV for any xenon isotope. We constrain the $^{132}$Xe(n,$γ$) $^{133}$Xe cross section and reaction rate using the TALYS reaction code.

nucl-ex

Nuclear level densities and $γ$-ray strength functions of $^{87}\mathrm{Kr}$ -- First application of the Oslo Method in inverse kinematics

The $γ$-ray strength function ($γ$SF) and nuclear level density (NLD) have been extracted for the first time from inverse kinematic reactions with the Oslo Method. This novel technique allows measurements of these properties across a wide range of previously inaccessible nuclei. Proton-$γ$ coincidence events from the $\mathrm{d}(^{86}\mathrm{Kr}, \mathrm{p}γ)^{87}\mathrm{Kr}$ reaction were measured at iThemba LABS and the $γ$SF and NLD in $^{87}\mathrm{Kr}$ obtained. The low-energy region of the $γ$SF is compared to Shell Model calculations which suggest this region to be dominated by M1 strength. The $γ$SF and NLD are used as input parameters to Hauser-Feshbach calculations to constrain $(\mathrm{n},γ)$ cross sections of nuclei using the TALYS reaction code. These results are compared to $^{86}\mathrm{Kr}(n,γ)$ data from direct measurements.

nucl-ex