A1 Journal article (refereed)
A Novel Approach to β-Decay : PANDORA, a New Experimental Setup for Future In-Plasma Measurements (2022)

Mascali, D., Santonocito, D., Amaducci, S., Andò, L., Antonuccio, V., Biri, S., Bonanno, A., Bonanno, V. P., Briefi, S., Busso, M., Celona, L., Cosentino, L., Cristallo, S., Cuffiani, M., De Angelis, C., De Angelis, G., De Salvador, D., Di Donato, L., Ducret, J.-E., . . . Vincetti, L. (2022). A Novel Approach to β-Decay : PANDORA, a New Experimental Setup for Future In-Plasma Measurements. Universe, 8(2), Article 80. https://doi.org/10.3390/universe8020080

JYU authors or editors

Publication details

All authors or editors: Mascali, David; Santonocito, Domenico; Amaducci, Simone; Andò, Lucio; Antonuccio, Vincenzo; Biri, Sándor; Bonanno, Alfio; Bonanno, Vincenza Piera; Briefi, Stefan; Busso, Maurizio; et al.

Journal or series: Universe

eISSN: 2218-1997

Publication year: 2022

Publication date: 27/01/2022

Volume: 8

Issue number: 2

Article number: 80

Publisher: MDPI AG

Publication country: Switzerland

Publication language: English

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/universe8020080

Publication open access: Openly available

Publication channel open access: Open Access channel

Publication is parallel published (JYX): https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/80071

Abstract

Theoretical predictions as well as experiments performed at storage rings have shown that the lifetimes of β-radionuclides can change significantly as a function of the ionization state. In this paper we describe an innovative approach, based on the use of a compact plasma trap to emulate selected stellar-like conditions. It has been proposed within the PANDORA project (Plasmas for Astrophysics, Nuclear Decay Observation and Radiation for Archaeometry) with the aim to measure, for the first time in plasma, nuclear β-decay rates of radionuclides involved in nuclear-astrophysics processes. To achieve this task, a compact magnetic plasma trap has been designed to reach the needed plasma densities, temperatures, and charge-states distributions. A multi-diagnostic setup will monitor, on-line, the plasma parameters, which will be correlated with the decay rate of the radionuclides. The latter will be measured through the detection of the γ-rays emitted by the excited daughter nuclei following the β-decay. An array of 14 HPGe detectors placed around the trap will be used to detect the emitted γ-rays. For the first experimental campaign three isotopes, 176Lu, 134Cs, and 94Nb, were selected as possible physics cases. The newly designed plasma trap will also represent a tool of choice to measure the plasma opacities in a broad spectrum of plasma conditions, experimentally poorly known but that have a great impact on the energy transport and spectroscopic observations of many astrophysical objects. Status and perspectives of the project will be highlighted in the paper.

Keywords: nuclear physics; astrophysics; detectors; plasma physics; plasma technology

Free keywords: beta decay; nucleosynthesis; plasma trap; plasma diagnostics

Contributing organizations

Ministry reporting: Yes

Reporting Year: 2022

JUFO rating: 1