High-resolution Cross Section Measurements for Neutron Interactions on ^89 Y with Incident Neutron Energies Up to 95 Kev

The cross section of the ^89 Y(n, γ ) reaction has important implications in nuclear astrophysics and for advanced nuclear technology. Given its neutron magic number N = 50 and a consequent small neutron capture cross section, ^89 Y represents one of the key nuclides for the stellar s-process. It acts as a bottleneck in the neutron capture chain between the Fe seed and the heavier elements. Moreover, it is located at the overlapping region, where both the weak and main s-process components take place. ^89 Y, the only stable yttrium isotope, is also used in innovative nuclear reactors. Neutron capture and transmission measurements were performed at the time-of-flight facilities n_TOF at CERN and GELINA at JRC-Geel. Resonance parameters of individual resonances were extracted from a resonance analysis of the experimental transmission and capture yields, up to a neutron incident energy of 95 keV. Even though a comparison with results reported in the literature shows differences in resonance parameters, the present data are consistent with the Maxwellian averaged cross section suggested by the astrophysical database KADoNiS.