Measurement of Te-120 (alpha, n) cross sections relevant to the astrophysical p process

The statistical Hauser-Feshbach (HF) model performs poorly in calculating the (gamma, alpha) rates that are critical to the p process. Experimental work on elastic scattering of the tellurium isotopic chain [A. Palumbo et al. (unpublished)] provided a new parametrization of the alpha-optical potential and consequently new HF calculations of the (alpha, x) cross sections on Te120-130. However, reliable experimental cross sections of these isotopes have not been measured at energies relevant to the p process. To test the reliability of the HF calculations, we measured the (alpha, n) cross sections on Te-120, one of the p nuclei, using the activation technique. The results are compared with the HF model calculations.