No Arabic abstract
According to sensitivity studies, the $^{38}mathrm{K}left( p, gamma right){}^{39}mathrm{Ca}$ reaction has a significant influence on $mathrm{Ar}$, $mathrm{K}$, and $mathrm{Ca}$ production in classical novae. In order to constrain the rate of this reaction, we have performed a direct measurement of the strengths of three candidate $ell = 0$ resonances within the Gamow window, at $386 pm 10~mathrm{keV}$, $515 pm 10~mathrm{keV}$, and $689 pm 10~mathrm{keV}$. The experiment was performed in inverse kinematics using a beam of unstable $^{38}mathrm{K}$ impinged on a windowless $mathrm{H}_2$ target. The $^{39}mathrm{Ca}$ recoils and prompt $gamma$ rays from $^{38}mathrm{K}left( p, gamma right){}^{39}mathrm{Ca}$ reactions were detected in coincidence using a recoil mass separator and a BGO array, respectively. For the $689$ keV resonance, we observed a clear recoil-$gamma$ coincidence signal and extracted resonance strength and energy values of $120^{+50}_{-30}~mathrm{(stat.)}^{+20}_{-60}~mathrm{(sys.)}~mathrm{meV}$ and $679^{+2}_{-1}~mathrm{(stat.)} pm 1~mathrm{(sys.)}~mathrm{keV}$, respectively. We also performed a singles analysis, extracting a resonance strength of $120 pm 20~mathrm{(stat.)} pm 15~mathrm{(sys.)}~mathrm{meV}$, consistent with the coincidence result. For the $386$ keV and $515$ keV resonances, we extract $90%$ confidence level upper limits of $2.54$ meV and $18.4$ meV, respectively. We have established a new recommended $^{38}mathrm{K}(p, gamma){}^{39}mathrm{Ca}$ rate based on experimental information, which reduces overall uncertainties near the peak temperatures of nova burning by a factor of ${sim} 250$. Using the rate obtained in this work in model calculations of the hottest oxygen-neon novae reduces overall uncertainties on $mathrm{Ar}$, $mathrm{K}$, and $mathrm{Ca}$ synthesis to factors of $15$ or less in all cases.
The $^{23}$Na$(alpha,p)^{26}$Mg and $^{23}$Na$(alpha,n)^{26}$Al reactions are important for our understanding of the $^{26}$Al abundance in massive stars. The aim of this work is to report on a direct and simultaneous measurement of these astrophysically important reactions using an active target system. The reactions were investigated in inverse kinematics using $^{4}$He as the active target gas in the detector. We measured the excitation functions in the energy range of about 2 to 6 MeV in the center of mass. We have found that the cross sections of the $^{23}$Na$(alpha,p)^{26}$Mg and the $^{23}$Na$(alpha,n)^{26}$Al reactions are in good agreement with previous experiments, and with statistical model calculations.
The 17O(p,g)18F reaction plays an important role in hydrogen burning processes in different stages of stellar evolution. The rate of this reaction must therefore be known with high accuracy in order to provide the necessary input for astrophysical models. The cross section of 17O(p,g)18F is characterized by a complicated resonance structure at low energies. Experimental data, however, is scarce in a wide energy range which increases the uncertainty of the low energy extrapolations. The purpose of the present work is therefore to provide consistent and precise cross section values in a wide energy range. The cross section is measured using the activation method which provides directly the total cross section. With this technique some typical systematic uncertainties encountered in in-beam gamma-spectroscopy experiments can be avoided. The cross section was measured between 500 keV and 1.8 MeV proton energies with a total uncertainty of typically 10%. The results are compared with earlier measurements and it is found that the gross features of the 17O(p,g)18F excitation function is relatively well reproduced by the present data. Deviation of roughly a factor of 1.5 is found in the case of the total cross section when compared with the only one high energy dataset. At the lowest measured energy our result is in agreement with two recent datasets within one standard deviation and deviates by roughly two standard deviations from a third one. An R-matrix analysis of the present and previous data strengthen the reliability of the extrapolated zero energy astrophysical S-factor. Using an independent experimental technique, the literature cross section data of 17O(p,g)18F is confirmed in the energy region of the resonances while lower direct capture cross section is recommended at higher energies. The present dataset provides a constraint for the theoretical cross sections.
The most intense gamma-ray line observable from novae is likely to be from positron annihilation associated with the decay of 18F. The uncertainty in the destruction rate of this nucleus through the 18F(p,{alpha})15O reaction presents a limit to interpretation of any future observed gamma-ray flux. Direct measurements of the cross section of both this reaction and the 18F(p,p)18F reaction have been performed between center of mass energies of 0.5 and 1.9 MeV. Simultaneous fits to both data sets with the R-Matrix formalism reveal several resonances, with the inferred parameters of populated states in 19Ne in general agreement with previous measurements. Of particular interest, extra strength has been observed above ECM sim1.3 MeV in the 18F(p,p)18F reaction and between 1.3-1.7 MeV in the 18F(p,{alpha})15O reaction. This is well described by a broad 1/2+ state, consistent with both a recent theoretical prediction and an inelastic scattering measurement. The astrophysical implications of a broad sub-threshold partner to this state are discussed.
The $^{22}$Ne(p,$gamma$)$^{23}$Na reaction is the most uncertain process in the neon-sodium cycle of hydrogen burning. At temperatures relevant for nucleosynthesis in asymptotic giant branch stars and classical novae, its uncertainty is mainly due to a large number of predicted but hitherto unobserved resonances at low energy. Purpose: A new direct study of low energy $^{22}$Ne(p,$gamma$)$^{23}$Na resonances has been performed at the Laboratory for Underground Nuclear Astrophysics (LUNA), in the Gran Sasso National Laboratory, Italy. Method: The proton capture on $^{22}$Ne was investigated in direct kinematics, delivering an intense proton beam to a $^{22}$Ne gas target. $gamma$ rays were detected with two high-purity germanium detectors enclosed in a copper and lead shielding suppressing environmental radioactivity. Results: Three resonances at 156.2 keV ($omegagamma$ = (1.48,$pm$,0.10),$cdot$,10$^{-7}$ eV), 189.5 keV ($omegagamma$ = (1.87,$pm$,0.06),$cdot$,10$^{-6}$ eV) and 259.7 keV ($omegagamma$ = (6.89,$pm$,0.16),$cdot$,10$^{-6}$ eV) proton beam energy, respectively, have been observed for the first time. For the levels at 8943.5, 8975.3, and 9042.4 keV excitation energy corresponding to the new resonances, the $gamma$-decay branching ratios have been precisely measured. Three additional, tentative resonances at 71, 105 and 215 keV proton beam energy, respectively, were not observed here. For the strengths of these resonances, experimental upper limits have been derived that are significantly more stringent than the upper limits reported in the literature. Conclusions: Based on the present experimental data and also previous literature data, an updated thermonuclear reaction rate is provided in tabular and parametric form. The new reaction rate is significantly higher than previous evaluations at temperatures of 0.08-0.3 GK.
We report on a precise measurement of double-polarization asymmetries in electron-induced breakup of $^3mathrm{He}$ proceeding to $mathrm{pd}$ and $mathrm{ppn}$ final states, performed in quasi-elastic kinematics at $Q^2 = 0.25,(mathrm{GeV}/c)^2$ for missing momenta up to $250,mathrm{MeV}/c$. These observables represent highly sensitive tools to investigate the electromagnetic and spin structure of $^3mathrm{He}$ and the relative importance of two- and three-body effects involved in the breakup reaction dynamics. The measured asymmetries cannot be satisfactorily reproduced by state-of-the-art calculations of $^3mathrm{He}$ unless their three-body segment is adjusted, indicating that the spin-dependent part of the nuclear interaction governing the three-body breakup process is much smaller than previously thought.