Modern Inelastic Scattering Descriptions: Deformed QRPA Excited State Transitions

Reaction rates and particle absorption are of fundamental importance in the study of the origin of elements and in applied areas such as radio isotopes production and radiation therapies. For example, inelastic scattering calculations can provide direct and indirect information about reactions involving unstable targets, systems where measurements cannot be performed due to the fast decay of the nuclei involved. Therefore, theoretical models are required to supplement and if necessary even provide the desired nuclear data. The deformation of the recent nuclei of interest increases the complexity of the calculations and challenges the usual assumptions present in the standard reaction models. We are extending the predictive power of nuclear reaction calculations by combining a modern reaction formulation with the state-of-the-art nuclear structure description for deformed targets. We use a projection formalism to restore angular momentum and utilize the transition density formalism to describe relevant nuclear structure in an axially deformed QRPA (Quasi-Particle Random Phase Approximation) framework. Folding with an effective interaction allows us to achieve inelastic scattering predictions. One of our objectives is to obtain cross sections for data evaluations and enable the indirect determination of neutron capture cross sections for s-process branch points. Capture cross sections for s-process branch points will be combined with isotopic analyses of pre-solar grains, carried out by the Stardust collaboration at LLNL, will provide valuable constraints on models of stellar evolution.