Measurement of the 60Fe(n,γ)61Fe Cross Section at Stellar Temperatures

Observations of galactic gamma-ray activity have challenged the current understanding of nucleosynthesis in massive stars. Recent measurements of Fe-60 abundances relative to Al-26(g) have underscored the need for accurate nuclear information concerning the stellar production of Fe-60. In light of this motivation, a first measurement of the stellar Fe-60(n,gamma)Fe-61 cross section, the predominant destruction mechanism of Fe-60, has been performed by activation at the Karlsruhe Van de Graaff accelerator. Results show a Maxwellian averaged cross section at kT=25 keV of 9.9 +/-(2.8(syst))(1.4(stat))mbarn, a significant reduction in uncertainty with respect to existing theoretical discrepancies. This result will serve to significantly constrain models of Fe-60 nucleosynthesis in massive stars.