Proton capture on \(^{90}\)Zr revisited

Abstract

The \(^{90}\)Zr(p,\(\gamma \))\(^{91}\)Nb reaction is one of the important reactions in the \(A\approx 90\) mass region and part of the nucleosynthesis path responsible for production of \(^{92}\)Mo during the \(\gamma \)-process. Discrepant data in the literature provide a cross section that varies up to 30% within the Gamow window for the \(^{90}\)Zr(p,\(\gamma \))\(^{91}\)Nb reaction. Thus, the cross section measurements of \(^{90}\)Zr(p,\(\gamma \))\(^{91}\)Nb reaction were revisited using the \(\gamma \)-summing technique. The results are consistent with the lower-value cross sections found in the literature. Based on the new data an updated reaction rate for \(^{90}\)Zr(p,\(\gamma \))\(^{91}\)Nb is provided that is up to 20% higher than that obtained from the non-smoker code.