Speaker
Description
Neutron-induced reactions play central roles in the study of stellar nucleosynthesis. The study of these reactions on rare isotopes has been hindered by short lifetimes, which rule out the standard approach of neutrons impinging on a fixed target. The future Neutron Target Facility at Los Alamos National Laboratory follows an inverse kinematics approach, combining a rare-isotope beam with a moderated spallation-neutron field to form a “neutron target.” Recent measurements validated the simulated energy and spatial distribution of the neutron flux within a graphite moderator. A proof-of-principle neutron-capture experiment with a stable $^{78}$Kr beam is planned. This work enables future measurements on short-lived nuclei providing strong constraints on nucleosynthesis models across the chart of nuclides.