Köln 2025 – scientific programme
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HK: Fachverband Physik der Hadronen und Kerne
HK 45: Nuclear Astrophysics VI
HK 45.4: Talk
Thursday, March 13, 2025, 14:45–15:00, SR 0.03 Erw. Physik
Beam characterization of a DT neutron generator for Big Bang Nucleosynthesis studies — •Max Osswald1,2, Daniel Bemmerer2, Björn Lehnert1, Steffen Turkat1, and Kai Zuber1 — 1TU Dresden — 2Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR)
The intense DT neutron generator of TU Dresden is based on a duoplasmatron ion source, which can extract a deuteron beam with energies up to 350 keV. With beam currents of several milliamperes, it is an exceptional facility in Europe and can generate 14 MeV neutrons with up to 1012 n/s for fusion research. This contribution focuses on the characterization of the accelerator, including the calibration of beam energy, energy spread, and long-term stability, which are pivotal for precision studies of Big Bang Nucleosynthesis reactions. Additional key parameters such as beam spot size and position stability will also be reported enabling high-precision cross-section measurements.
Based on this characterization, the 2H(d,p)3H and 2H(d,n)3He reactions will be investigated at a new ASTRO beam line, which is currently being designed. These reactions currently limit our understanding of the primordial deuterium abundance in BBN modelings. Together with D/H precision data based on astronomical observations, these measurements will allow us to determine the cosmic baryon density Ωb h2 with the same precision as obtained by the CMB survey of the PLANCK satellite. This independent determination of one of cosmology’s most fundamental parameters will provide a cross-check between astronomy, cosmology & nuclear astrophysics, offering deeper insights into the early universe and the origin of our chemical elements.
Keywords: Big Bang Nucleosynthesis; DT neutron generator; Deuterium abundance