Measurement of Cu ,65 63 (n ,γ ) Cu ,66 64 and 59 Co(n ,γ ) 60 Co Maxwellian-averaged neutron-capture cross sections

Knowledge of the neutron capture of copper and cobalt isotopes is important for the understanding of abundances of the heavier elements produced via the weak $s$ process. There are considerable discrepancies for the $^{63}\mathrm{Cu}(n,\ensuremath{\gamma})^{64}\mathrm{Cu}$ and $^{65}\mathrm{Cu}(n,\ensuremath{\gamma})^{66}\mathrm{Cu}$ cross-section values in the literature. New measurements of these cross sections were performed at the SARAF phase I facility using a high-power quasi-Maxwellian neutron source produced by irradiation of the liquid-lithium target (LiLiT) with an intense continuous-wave proton beam. The cross sections were measured by counting the activity of the irradiated targets. The measurement allowed us to evaluate the $^{63}\mathrm{Cu}(n,\ensuremath{\gamma})^{64}\mathrm{Cu}$, $^{65}\mathrm{Cu}(n,\ensuremath{\gamma})^{66}\mathrm{Cu}$, and $^{59}\mathrm{Co}(n,\ensuremath{\gamma})^{60}\mathrm{Co}$ Maxwellian averaged cross sections at 30 keV, obtaining values of $70.4\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}1.{8}_{\mathrm{exp}}\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}2.{4}_{\mathrm{syst}}$, $26.8\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}1.{5}_{\mathrm{exp}}\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}1.{0}_{\mathrm{syst}}$, and $38.1\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.{9}_{\mathrm{exp}}\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.{9}_{\mathrm{syst}}\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}\mathrm{mb}$, respectively. The results are compared with previous measurements in the literature.