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Results are presented from the first neutron-transfer measurement on $^{80}\mathrm{Ge}$ using an exotic beam from the Holifield Radioactive Ion Beam Facility at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. Newly measured spins and spectroscopic factors of low-lying states of $^{81}\mathrm{Ge}$ are determined, and the neutron capture cross section on $^{80}\mathrm{Ge}$ was calculated in a direct-semidirect model to provide a more realistic ($n,\ensuremath{\gamma}$) reaction rate for $r$-process simulations. Furthermore, a region of shape coexistence around $N\ensuremath{\approx}50$ is confirmed and implications for the magic nature of $^{78}\mathrm{Ni}$ are discussed.

A new detector array, the Modular Total Absorption Spectrometer (MTAS), was commissioned at the Holifield Radioactive Ion Beam Facility (HRIBF) at Oak Ridge National Lab (ORNL). Total absorption gamma spectra measured with MTAS are expected to improve beta-feeding patterns and beta strength functions in fission products. MTAS is constructed out of hexagonal NaI(Tl) detectors with a unique central module surrounded by 18 identical crystals assembled in three rings. The total NaI(Tl) mass of MTAS is over 1000 kg. The response of the central and other 18 MTAS modules to γ-radiation was simulated using the GEANT4 toolkit modified to analyze the nonlinear light output of NaI(Tl). A detailed description of the GEANT4 modifications made is discussed. Simulated energy resolution of MTAS modules is found to agree well with the measurements for single γ transitions of 662 keV (137Cs) with 8.2% full width half maximum (FWHM), 835 keV (54Mn) with FWHM of 7.5% FWHM, and 1115 keV (65Zn) with FWHM of 6.5%. Simulations of single and multiple γ-rays from 60Co are also discussed.

The Modular Total Absorption Spectrometer (MTAS) array has been designed, constructed, characterized, and applied to the decay studies of {sup 238}U fission products at the Holifield Radioactive Ion Beam Facility (HRIBF) at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. A MTAS commissioning run was performed in January 2012 at the mass separator on-line to the HRIBF Tandem accelerator. Preliminary results of MTAS data confirm known decay patterns of {sup 142}Ba and {sup 142}La deduced from an earlier study using a total absorption spectrometer technique.

A Modular Total Absorption Spectrometer constructed at the Holifield Radioactive Ion Beam Facility has been applied to decay studies of over 20 238 U fission products. The measurements were focused on nuclei identified as important for decay heat analysis during a nuclear fuel cycle. Preliminary results on the average electromagnetic (EM) energy release in the β decay of 89 Kr and 139 Xe isotopes yielded values of 2446 keV and 1126 keV, respectively. It represents an increase of over 35% and 20%, respectively, when compared to the average EM energies deduced using the ENSDF database.

Type I X-ray bursts are the most common explosions in the Galaxy; however, the nucleosynthesis that occurs during the thermonuclear runaway and explosion is poorly understood. In this proceedings we discuss current experimental efforts and techniques that are being used to study X-ray burst nucleosynthesis in the laboratory. Specifically, radioactive ion beam techniques that have recently been developed have allowed the study of some of the most important (α, p) reactions in X-ray bursts for the first time.