Determining the ⁶⁸Zn(n,γ) cross section with DANCE

Constraining neutron capture rate uncertainties is essential to understanding s-process nucleosynthesis. Due to its relatively low (∼20 mb) neutron capture cross section, ⁶⁸Zn acts as a bottleneck in the weak s-process chain, which primarily takes place in massive stars. Sensitivity studies have shown that uncertainties in the ⁶⁸Zn neutron capture cross section are propagated downstream to heavier s-process products up to A≈90. Tο work towards reducing these uncertainties, the ⁶⁸Zn(n,γ) reaction cross section was measured from neutron energies of 0.1 keV to 1 MeV with the Detector for Advanced Neutron Capture Experiments (DANCE) at the Los Alamos Neutron Science Center. This presentation will discuss determination of the efficiency of DANCE for this reaction, comparisons of experimental data to simulation, and preliminary cross section results.