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Abstract The$$^{90}$$ $_{}^{90}$ Zr(p,$$\gamma $$ $\gamma$ )$$^{91}$$ $_{}^{91}$ Nb reaction is one of the important reactions in the$$A\approx 90$$ $A\approx 90$ mass region and part of the nucleosynthesis path responsible for production of$$^{92}$$ $_{}^{92}$ Mo during the$$\gamma $$ $\gamma$ -process. Discrepant data in the literature provide a cross section that varies up to 30% within the Gamow window for the$$^{90}$$ $_{}^{90}$ Zr(p,$$\gamma $$ $\gamma$ )$$^{91}$$ $_{}^{91}$ Nb reaction. Thus, the cross section measurements of$$^{90}$$ $_{}^{90}$ Zr(p,$$\gamma $$ $\gamma$ )$$^{91}$$ $_{}^{91}$ Nb reaction were revisited using the$$\gamma $$ $\gamma$ -summing technique. The results are consistent with the lower-value cross sections found in the literature. Based on the new data an updated reaction rate for$$^{90}$$ $_{}^{90}$ Zr(p,$$\gamma $$ $\gamma$ )$$^{91}$$ $_{}^{91}$ Nb is provided that is up to 20% higher than that obtained from thenon-smokercode. 

The thermodynamical conditions and the neutron density produced in a laser-induced implosion of a deuterium-tritium (DT) filled capsule at the National Ignition Facility (NIF) are the closest laboratory analog of stellar conditions. We plan to investigate neutron-induced reactions on 40 Ar, namely the 40 Ar( n , 2 n ) 39 Ar( t 1/2 =268 y), the 40 Ar( n , γ) 41 Ar(110 min) and the potential rapid two-neutron capture reaction 40 Ar(2 n , γ) 42 Ar(33 y) in an Ar-loaded DT capsule. The chemical inertness of noble gas Ar enables reliable collection of the reaction products.