[en] Space-based gamma-ray satellites such as BeppoSAX, COMPTEL and INTEGRAL have reported detection of ⁴⁴Ti in the Cassiopeia-A and SN1987a core-collapse supernova remnants. The NuSTAR satellite has recently measured the distribution of ⁴⁴Ti gamma ray emission in Cassiopeia-A finding a highly asymmetric distribution. In all cases, the amounts of ⁴⁴Ti inferred in the ejecta are higher than is expected, even assuming a wide range of progenitor models and masses. The dominant nuclear uncertainty within such models is the rate of the ⁴⁴Ti(α, p)⁴⁷V nuclear reaction rate. Through radiochemical separation, a sample of ⁴⁴Ti was obtained from highly-irradiated martensitic steel accelerator components of the Paul Scherrer Institute. Transported to CERN, this material was then developed into a beam at the REXISOLDE facility and directed onto a gas filled cell. This enabled a study of the ⁴⁴Ti(α, p)⁴⁷V reaction at an energy of Ecm=4.15 MeV, finding an upper limit for the cross section of 40 μ barn (68% c.l.). Implications for core collapse supernovae and plans for future experiments will be presented. (author)

[en] Technology developed for the T2K electromagnetic calorimeter has been adapted to make a small footprint, reliable, segmented detector to characterise anti-neutrinos emitted by nuclear reactors. Based on the design of the T2K Near Detector ECal, the device detects anti-neutrinos through the distinctive delayed coincidence signal of inverse β-decay interactions using plastic scintillator and Hamamatsu Multi-Pixel Photon Counters. The device has been developed and constructed at the University of Liverpool and is situated in a 20 ft ISO container unit, capable of operating aboveground. The device finished a successful field trial at the Wylfa Magnox Reactor on Anglesey, UK where it was located roughly 60 m from the 1.5 GW_th reactor core and is now undergoing an upgrade with 50% more mass and channels as well as new electronics and sensors. (paper)