2023/04/18 by S. Hudan, Hudan, S., James E. Johnstone +25
Engineering · Physics and Astronomy · #Abundance (ecology) #Atomic physics #Beam (structure) #Biology #Computer science #Excitation #Excitation function #FOS: Physical sciences #Function (biology) #Fusion #Geology #High resolution #Isotope #Natural abundance #Neutron #Nuclear Experiment (nucl-ex) #Nuclear Physics and Applications #Nuclear physics #Nuclear physics research studies #Nuclear reactor physics and engineering #Optics #Physics #Quality (philosophy) #Resolution (logic)
paper · pdf · doi:10.48550/arxiv.2304.09117
openalex publication_date 2023/04/18 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/01
Measurement of fusion excitation functions for stable nuclei has largely been restricted to nuclei with significant natural abundance. Typically, to investigate neighboring nuclei with low natural abundance has required obtaining isotopically enriched material. This restriction often limits the ability to perform such measurements. We report the measurement of a high quality fusion excitation function for a 17O beam produced from unenriched material with 0.038% natural abundance. The measurement is enabled by using an active thick-target approach and the accuracy of the result is validated using its mirror nucleus 17F and resonances. The result provides important information about the average fusion cross-section for the oxygen isotopic chain as a function of neutron excess.