Cross section measurement of the (144S)m( alpha, n) Gd-147 reaction for studying the alpha-nucleus optical potential at astrophysical energies

Background: Nuclear reactions involving alpha particles play an important role in various astrophysical processes such as the gamma process of heavy element nucleosynthesis. The poorly known low-energy alpha-nucleus optical potential is a key parameter to estimate the rates of these reactions.Purpose: The alpha-nucleus optical potential can be tested by measuring the cross section of alpha scattering as well as alpha-induced reactions. Low energy elastic alpha scattering on 144Sm has recently been measured with high precision. The aim of the present work was to complement that work by measuring the (alpha, n) cross sections on 144Sm at low energies. The experimental data shall be used to constrain the alpha-nucleus optical model potential. From this potential the 144Sm(alpha, gamma) 148Gd reaction rate can be derived with reduced uncertainties.Method: The 144Sm(alpha, n)147Gd reaction was studied by bombarding Sm targets with alpha beams provided by the cyclotron accelerator of Atomki. The cross section was determined using the activation method. The gamma radiation following the decay of the 147Gd reaction product was measured with a high-purity germanium (HPGe) detector. The experimental data are analyzed within the statistical model.Results: The cross section was measured in the alpha-energy range between 13 and 20 MeV in 1 MeV steps, i.e., from close above the (alpha, n) threshold. The results were compared with statistical model calculations using various approaches and parametrizations for the alpha-nucleus optical potential, and excellent agreement was obtained for two recent potentials. However, these potentials cannot reproduce literature data for the 144Sm(alpha, gamma) 148Gd reaction with the same accuracy.Conclusions: Constraints for the alpha-nucleus potential were derived from an analysis of the new 144Sm(alpha, n)147Gd data and literature data for 144Sm(alpha, gamma) 148Gd. These constraints enable a determination of the re-action rate of the 144Sm(alpha, gamma)148Gd reaction with significantly reduced uncertainties of less than a factor of 2.