Advances in radiative capture studies at LUNA with a segmented BGO detector

Abstract Studies of charged-particle reactions for low-energy nuclear astrophysics require high sensitivity, which can be achieved by means detection setups with efficiency and low backgrounds, to obtain precise measurements in the energy region interest stellar scenarios. High-efficiency total absorption spectroscopy is an established powerful tool studying radiative capture reactions, particularly if combined cosmic background reduction several orders magnitude obtained at Laboratory Underground Nuclear Astrophysics (LUNA). We present recent improvements setup Bismuth Germanium Oxide (BGO) detector LUNA, aiming reduce high-energy backgrounds increase summing efficiency. The new design results enhanced sensitivity BGO setup, as we demonstrate discuss context first direct measurement 65 keV resonance ( E x = 5672 keV) 17 O(p, γ ) 18 F reaction. Moreover, show two applications detector, exploit its segmentation. In case complex -ray cascades, e.g. de-excitation F, segmentation allows identify suppress beam-induced signals that mimic sum peak interest. another application such a form situ activation reaction β + unstable product nuclei, 14 N(p, 15 O