The neutron inelastic scattering of carbon-12, populating the Hoyle state, is a reaction of inter... more The neutron inelastic scattering of carbon-12, populating the Hoyle state, is a reaction of interest 17 for the triple-alpha process. The inverse process (neutron upscattering) can enhance the Hoyle state’s decay rate to the bound states of 12 18 C, effectively increasing the overall triple-alpha reaction rate. 19 The cross section of this reaction is impossible to measure experimentally but has been determined 20 here at astrophysically-relevant energies for the first time using detailed balance. This cross section 21 will inform astrophysical models on the importance of neutron upscattering in neutron-rich stellar 22 environments. 23 Using a highly-collimated monoenergetic beam of neutrons incident on the Texas Active Target 24 Time Projection Chamber (TexAT TPC) filled with CO2 gas, the 3α-particles (arising from the decay 25 of the Hoyle state following inelastic scattering) were measured and a cross section was extracted 26 between En = 8.15 MeV and En = 10.0 MeV. The cross sec...
The neutron inelastic scattering of carbon-12, populating the Hoyle state, is a reaction of inter... more The neutron inelastic scattering of carbon-12, populating the Hoyle state, is a reaction of interest 17 for the triple-alpha process. The inverse process (neutron upscattering) can enhance the Hoyle state’s decay rate to the bound states of 12 18 C, effectively increasing the overall triple-alpha reaction rate. 19 The cross section of this reaction is impossible to measure experimentally but has been determined 20 here at astrophysically-relevant energies for the first time using detailed balance. This cross section 21 will inform astrophysical models on the importance of neutron upscattering in neutron-rich stellar 22 environments. 23 Using a highly-collimated monoenergetic beam of neutrons incident on the Texas Active Target 24 Time Projection Chamber (TexAT TPC) filled with CO2 gas, the 3α-particles (arising from the decay 25 of the Hoyle state following inelastic scattering) were measured and a cross section was extracted 26 between En = 8.15 MeV and En = 10.0 MeV. The cross sec...
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