Proton capture cross-section of Cd-106,Cd-108 for the astrophysical p-process

Abstract

The proton capture cross-sections of the two most proton-rich, stable isotopes of cadmium have been measured for the first time in the energy range relevant to the astrophysical p-process between E-p = 2.4 and 4.7 MeV. The Cd-106( p,gamma) In-107 and Cd-108( p,gamma) In-109 cross-sections have been determined using the activation technique. Highly enriched as well as natural Cd targets have been irradiated with proton beams from both the Van de Graaff and cyclotron accelerators of the ATOMKI. The cross-sections have been derived by measuring the gamma-radiation following the beta-decay of the In-107 and In-109 reaction products. The experimental results are presented here and are compared with the predictions of Hauser-Feshbach statistical model calculations using the NON-SMOKER code. It is found that the calculation reproduces well the experimental data. The sensitivity of the model calculations to the proton- and gamma-strengths is examined.