Measurements of 152Gd(p ,γ )153Tb and 152Gd(p ,n )152Tb reaction cross sections for the astrophysical γ process

The total cross sections for the ¹⁵²Gd(p ,γ )¹⁵³Tb and ¹⁵²Gd(p ,n^{) 152}Tb reactions have been measured by the activation method at effective center-of-mass energies 3.47 ≤E_c.m .ef^f≤7.94 MeV and 4.96 ≤E_c.m .ef^f≤7.94 MeV, respectively. The targets were prepared by evaporation of 30.6% isotopically enriched ¹⁵²Gd oxide on aluminum backing foils, and bombarded with proton beams provided by a cyclotron accelerator. The cross sections were deduced from the observed γ -ray activity, which was detected off-line by an HPGe detector in a low background environment. The results are presented and compared with predictions of statistical model calculations. This comparison supports a modified optical proton+¹⁵²Gd potential suggested earlier.