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

Observations of galactic γ-ray activity have challenged the current understanding of nucleosynthesis in massive stars. Recent measurements of ⁶⁰Fe abundances relative to ²⁶Al^g have underscored the need for accurate nuclear information concerning the stellar production of ⁶⁰Fe. In light of this motivation, a first measurement of the stellar ⁶⁰Fe(n,γ)⁶¹Fe cross section, the predominant destruction mechanism of ⁶⁰Fe, 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±_1.4(stat)^2.8(syst)mbarn, a significant reduction in uncertainty with respect to existing theoretical discrepancies. This result will serve to significantly constrain models of ⁶⁰Fe nucleosynthesis in massive stars.