The study of exotic nuclei, and their implication for Astrophysics have become a driving force in low-energy nuclear science, nationally recognized by the construction of the
Facility for Rare Isotope Beams (FRIB) laboratory. To maximize the potential provided by beams of exotic nuclei, novel detector systems and analysis techniques must be developed, a current
focus of the Florida State University (FSU) group. Experimental results from commissioning experiments with the ANASEN and RESONEUT detectors at FSU are presented. The neutron deficient
⁹C nucleus was studied through the ⁸B+p resonant elastic scattering reaction. The experiment was conducted during the commissioning of the ANASEN detector in 2012. Due to
cryogenics problems, the experiment was stopped prematurely. Through analysis of the partial data set, it was shown that a full analysis could be performed, on complete data sets, for
future proton resonance elastic scattering experiments. Results from the ¹⁹O(d,p)²⁰O experiment, also conducted as a part of the commissioning of the ANASEN detector at FSU, will
be presented. It was found that heavy ion recoils from the (d,p) reactions were reaching the active zone of the proportional counter, and subsequently producing UV-light radiation that
degraded the proportional counter performance. This discovery lead to a re-design of the proportional counter, which is currently being constructed by the ANASEN group at Louisiana State
University. An experimental study of low-lying proton resonances in ²⁰Na was performed using the proton transfer ¹⁹Ne(d,n)²⁰Na(p) reaction as part of the commissioning
campaign of experiments with the RESONEUT detector. This reaction is comparable to the direct proton capture, ¹⁹Ne(p,ɣ)²⁰Na, which is of astrophysical significance in the
breakout from the Hot CNO-cycle. Using protons detected from the decay of ²⁰Na, three resonances were observed, at energies of 0.44 MeV, 0.66 MeV, and 0.82 MeV above the proton
threshold. The resonance strengths were determined, and the subsequent ¹⁹Ne(p,ɣ)²⁰Na stellar reaction rate was calculated. A discussion of this reaction rate in the
context of the breakout from the Hot CNO-cycle is presented. / A Dissertation submitted to the Department of Physics in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. / Fall Semester 2015. / August 12, 2015. / Includes bibliographical references. / Ingo Wiedenhöver, Professor Directing Dissertation; Tomasz Plewa, University Representative; Alexander Volya, Committee Member; Paul Cottle, Committee
Member; Nicholas Bonesteel, Committee Member.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:fsu.edu/oai:fsu.digital.flvc.org:fsu_291350 |
| Contributors | Belarge, Joseph (authoraut), Wiedenhöver, Ingo, 1966-, Plewa, Tomasz (university representative), Volya, Alexander (committee member), Cottle, Paul D. (Paul Davis) (committee member), Bonesteel, N. E. (committee member), Florida State University (degree granting institution), College of Arts and Sciences (degree granting college), Department of Physics (degree granting department) |
| Publisher | Florida State University |
| Source Sets | Florida State University |
| Language | English, English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Text, text |
| Format | 1 online resource (98 pages), computer, application/pdf |
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