Absolute Cross Sections for Proton Induced Reactions on 147,149Sm Below the Coulomb Barrier

Abstract Cross sections for 147,149 Sm(p,n) 147,149 Eu and 147,149 Sm(p, γ ) 148,150 Eu were measured using the activation method. The results are compared to the predictions of the Hauser-Feshbach statistical model. Different γ -ray strength functions have been tested against the experimental values. In the case of 150 Eu, in order to reproduce the experimental isomeric population cross sections, various scenarios for unknown branching ratios of certain discrete states have been discussed. The results provide constraints for the optical model parameters dedicated to this insufficiently known area of isotopes. Such cross sections for (p, γ ) reactions at energies below the Coulomb barrier are valuable for p -process nucleosynthesis calculations.