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Register a new userNew reaction rate for 16O(p,gamma)17F and its influence on the oxygen isotopic ratios in massive AGB stars
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The 16O(p,gamma)17F reaction rate is revisited with special emphasis on the stellar temperature range of T=60-100 MK important for hot bottom burning in asymptotic giant branch (AGB) stars. We evaluate existing cross section data that were obtained since 1958 and, if appropriate, correct published data for systematic errors that were not noticed previously, including the effects of coincidence summing and updated effective stopping powers. The data are interpreted by using two different models of nuclear reactions, that is, a potential model and R-matrix theory. A new astrophysical S-factor and recommended thermonuclear reaction rates are presented. As a result of our work, the 16O(p,gamma)17F reaction has now the most precisely known rate involving any target nucleus in the mass A >= 12 range, with reaction rate errors of about 7% over the entire temperature region of astrophysical interest (T=0.01-2.5 GK). The impact of the present improved reaction rate with its significantly reduced uncertainties on the hot bottom burning in AGB stars is discussed. In contrast to earlier results we find now that there is not clear evidence to date for any stellar grain origin from massive AGB stars.
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We present a new measurement of the $alpha$-spectroscopic factor ($S_alpha$) and the asymptotic normalization coefficient (ANC) for the 6.356 MeV 1/2$^+$ subthreshold state of $^{17}$O through the $^{13}$C($^{11}$B, $^{7}$Li)$^{17}$O transfer reaction and we determine the $alpha$-width of this state. This is believed to have a strong effect on the rate of the $^{13}$C($alpha$, $n$)$^{16}$O reaction, the main neutron source for {it slow} neutron captures (the $s$-process) in asymptotic giant branch (AGB) stars. Based on the new width we derive the astrophysical S-factor and the stellar rate of the $^{13}$C($alpha$, $n$)$^{16}$O reaction. At a temperature of 100 MK our rate is roughly two times larger than that by citet{cau88} and two times smaller than that recommended by the NACRE compilation. We use the new rate and different rates available in the literature as input in simulations of AGB stars to study their influence on the abundances of selected $s$-process elements and isotopic ratios. There are no changes in the final results using the different rates for the $^{13}$C($alpha$, $n$)$^{16}$O reaction when the $^{13}$C burns completely in radiative conditions. When the $^{13}$C burns in convective conditions, as in stars of initial mass lower than $sim$2 $M_sun$ and in post-AGB stars, some changes are to be expected, e.g., of up to 25% for Pb in our models. These variations will have to be carefully analyzed when more accurate stellar mixing models and more precise observational constraints are available.
The NO cycle takes place in the deepest layer of a H-burning core or shell, when the temperature exceeds T {simeq} 30 {cdot} 106 K. The O depletion observed in some globular cluster giant stars, always associated with a Na enhancement, may be due to either a deep mixing during the RGB (red giant branch) phase of the star or to the pollution of the primordial gas by an early population of massive AGB (asymptotic giant branch) stars, whose chemical composition was modified by the hot bottom burning. In both cases, the NO cycle is responsible for the O depletion. The activation of this cycle depends on the rate of the 15N(p,{gamma})16O reaction. A precise evaluation of this reaction rate at temperatures as low as experienced in H-burning zones in stellar interiors is mandatory to understand the observed O abundances. We present a new measurement of the 15N(p,{gamma})16O reaction performed at LUNA covering for the first time the center of mass energy range 70-370 keV, which corresponds to stellar temperatures between 65 {cdot} 106 K and 780 {cdot}106 K. This range includes the 15N(p,{gamma})16O Gamow-peak energy of explosive H-burning taking place in the external layer of a nova and the one of the hot bottom burning (HBB) nucleosynthesis occurring in massive AGB stars. With the present data, we are also able to confirm the result of the previous R-matrix extrapolation. In particular, in the temperature range of astrophysical interest, the new rate is about a factor of 2 smaller than reported in the widely adopted compilation of reaction rates (NACRE or CF88) and the uncertainty is now reduced down to the 10% level.
C and O isotopic ratios are reported for a sample of 46 Mira and SRa-type variable AGB stars. Vibration-rotation 1st and 2nd overtone CO lines in 1.5 to 2.5 $mu$m spectra were measured to derive isotopic ratios for 12C/13C, 16O/17O, and 16O/18O. Comparisons with previous measurements for individual stars and with various samples of evolved stars are discussed. Models for solar composition AGB stars of different initial masses are used to interpret our results. We find that the majority of the M stars had main sequence masses < 2 Msun and have not experienced sizable third dredge-up episodes. The progenitors of the four S-type stars in our sample are slightly more massive. Of the 6 C stars in the sample three have clear evidence relating their origin to the occurrence of the third dredge-up. Comparisons with O-rich presolar grains from AGB stars that lived before the formation of the solar system reveal variations in the interstellar medium chemical composition. The present generation of low-mass AGB stars show a large spread of 16O/17O ratios, similar to that of group 1 presolar grains and in agreement with theoretical expectations for the composition of mass 1.2 to 2 Msun stars after the 1st dredge up. On the contrary, the 16O/18O ratios of present-day LPVs are definitely smaller than those of group 1 grains. This occurrence is most probably a consequence of the the decrease with time of the 16O/18O ratio in the interstellar medium due to the chemical evolution of the Milky Way. One star in our sample has an O composition similar to that of group 2 presolar grains originating in an AGB star undergoing extramixing. This occurrence may indicate that the extramixing process is hampered at high metallicity or, equivalently, favored at low metallicity. Similar to O-rich grains no star in our sample shows evidence of HBB, expected for massive AGB stars.
Context. The abundances of the three main isotopes of oxygen are altered in the course of the CNO-cycle. When the first dredge-up mixes the burning products to the surface, the nucleosynthesis processes can be probed by measuring oxygen isotopic ratios. Aims. By measuring 16O/17O and 16O/18O in red giants of known mass we compare the isotope ratios with predictions from stellar and galactic evolution modelling. Methods. Oxygen isotopic ratios were derived from the K-band spectra of six red giants. The sample red giants are open cluster members with known masses of between 1.8 and 4.5 Msun . The abundance determination employs synthetic spectra calculated with the COMARCS code. The effect of uncertainties in the nuclear reaction rates, the mixing length, and of a change in the initial abundance of the oxygen isotopes was determined by a set of nucleosynthesis and mixing models using the FUNS code. Results. The observed 16O/17O ratios are in good agreement with the model results, even if the measured values do not present clear evidence of a variation with the stellar mass. The observed 16O/18O ratios are clearly lower than the predictions from our reference model. Variations in nuclear reaction rates and mixing length parameter both have only a very weak effect on the predicted values. The 12C/13C ratios of the K giants studied implies the absence of extra-mixing in these objects. Conclusions. A comparison with galactic chemical evolution models indicates that the 16O/18O abundance ratio underwent a faster decrease than predicted. To explain the observed ratios, the most likely scenario is a higher initial 18O abundance combined with a lower initial 16 O abundance. Comparing the measured 18 O/17 O ratio with the corresponding value for the ISM points towards an initial enhancement of 17O as well. Limitations imposed by the observations prevent this from being a conclusive result.
It has been suggested that hydrogen ingestion into the helium shell of massive stars could lead to high $^{13}$C and $^{15}$N excesses when the shock of a core-collapse supernova passes through its helium shell. This prediction questions the origin of extremely high $^{13}$C and $^{15}$N abundances observed in rare presolar SiC grains which is usually attributed to classical novae. In this context $^{13}$N($alpha$,p)$^{16}$O the reaction plays an important role since it is in competition with $^{13}$N $beta^+$-decay to $^{13}$C. The $^{13}$N($alpha$,p)$^{16}$O reaction rate used in stellar evolution calculations comes from the CF88 compilation with very scarce information on the origin of this rate. The goal of this work is to provide a recommended $^{13}$N($alpha$,p)$^{16}$O reaction rate, based on available experimental data. Unbound nuclear states in the $^{17}$F compound nucleus were studied using the spectroscopic information of the analog states in $^{17}$O nucleus that were measured at the Alto facility using the $^{13}$C($^7$Li,t)$^{17}$O alpha-transfer reaction, and spectroscopic factors were derived using a DWBA analysis. This spectroscopic information was used to calculate a recommended $^{13}$N($alpha$,p)$^{16}$O reaction rate with meaningful uncertainty using a Monte Carlo approach. The present $^{13}$N($alpha$,p)$^{16}$O reaction rate is found to be within a factor of two of the previous evaluation, with a typical uncertainty of a factor 2-3. The source of this uncertainty comes from the three resonances at $E_r^{c.m.} = 221$, 741 and 959 keV. This new error estimation translates to an overall uncertainty in the $^{13}$C production of a factor of 50. The main source of uncertainty on the re-evaluated $^{13}$N($alpha$,p)$^{16}$O reaction rate currently comes from the uncertain alpha-width of relevant $^{17}$F states.
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