New Instruments for Nuclear Astrophysics

A major task in experimental nuclear astrophysics is the measurement of cross sections of capture reactions. In the last years, the astrophysics group of NCSR “ Demokritos ” developed and used a method for conducting this kind of research using a 4 π NaI γ -detector. Of great importance in this method is the determination of the efficiency of the detector, which depends on the average multiplicity of the γ -cascade de-exciting the entry state of the produced nucleus. Two new experimental setups have been studied and are in course of installation at the Tandem Laboratory of the Institute of Nuclear and Particle Physics of NCSR “ Demokritos ” , that will provide the possibility for conducting this kind of experiments inhouse. The first one is a new 14x14 inches NaI detector and the second is the BGO Ball of the GASP setup. These detector setups as well as their potential experimental use will be described in detail.