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Register a new userImproved Direct Measurement of the 64.5 keV Resonance Strength in the 17O(p,a)14N Reaction at LUNA
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The $^{17}$O(p,$alpha$)$^{14}$N reaction plays a key role in various astrophysical scenarios, from asymptotic giant branch stars to classical novae. It affects the synthesis of rare isotopes such as $^{17}$O and $^{18}$F, which can provide constraints on astrophysical models. A new direct determination of the $E_{rm R}~=~64.5$~keV resonance strength performed at the Laboratory for Underground Nuclear Astrophysics accelerator has led to the most accurate value to date, $omegagamma = 10.0 pm 1.4_{rm stat} pm 0.7_{rm syst}$~neV, thanks to a significant background reduction underground and generally improved experimental conditions. The (bare) proton partial width of the corresponding state at $E_{rm x} = 5672$~keV in $^{18}$F is $Gamma_{rm p} = 35 pm 5_{rm stat} pm 3_{rm syst}$~neV. This width is about a factor of 2 higher than previously estimated thus leading to a factor of 2 increase in the $^{17}$O(p,$alpha$)$^{14}$N reaction rate at astrophysical temperatures relevant to shell hydrogen-burning in red giant and asymptotic giant branch stars. The new rate implies lower $^{17}$O/$^{16}$O ratios, with important implications on the interpretation of astrophysical observables from these stars.
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We report on a new measurement of $^{14}$N(p,$gamma$)$^{15}$O for the ground state capture transition at $E_p$ = 360, 380 and 400 keV, using the 400 kV LUNA accelerator. The true coincidence summing effect --the major source of error in the ground state capture determination-- has been significantly reduced by using a Clover--type gamma detector.
In stars with temperatures above 20*10^6 K, hydrogen burning is dominated by the CNO cycle. Its rate is determined by the slowest process, the 14N(p,gamma)15O reaction. Deep underground in Italys Gran Sasso laboratory, at the LUNA 400 kV accelerator, the cross section of this reaction has been measured at energies much lower than ever achieved before. Using a windowless gas target and a 4pi BGO summing detector, direct cross section data has been obtained down to 70 keV, reaching a value of 0.24 picobarn. The Gamow peak has been covered by experimental data for several scenarios of stable and explosive hydrogen burning. In addition, the strength of the 259 keV resonance has been remeasured. The thermonuclear reaction rate has been calculated for temperatures 90 - 300 *10^6 K, for the first time with negligible impact from extrapolations.
The 14N(p,gamma)15O reaction plays a vital role in various astrophysical scenarios. Its reaction rate must be accurately known in the present era of high precision astrophysics. The cross section of the reaction is often measured relative to a low energy resonance, the strength of which must therefore be determined precisely. The activation method, based on the measurement of 15O decay, has not been used in modern measurements of the 14N(p,gamma)15O reaction. The aim of the present work is to provide strength data for two resonances in the 14N(p,gamma)15O reaction using the activation method. The obtained values are largely independent from previous data measured by in-beam gamma-spectroscopy and are free from some of their systematic uncertainties. Solid state TiN targets were irradiated with a proton beam provided by the Tandetron accelerator of Atomki using a cyclic activation. The decay of the produced 15O isotopes was measured by detecting the 511 keV positron annihilation gamma-rays. The strength of the Ep = 278 keV resonance was measured to be 13.4 +- 0.8 meV while for the Ep = 1058 keV resonance the strength is 442 +- 27 meV. The obtained Ep = 278 keV resonance strength is in fair agreement with the values recommended by two recent works. On the other hand, the Ep = 1058 keV resonance strength is about 20% higher than the previous value. The discrepancy may be caused in part by a previously neglected finite target thickness correction. As only the low energy resonance is used as a normalization point for cross section measurements, the calculated astrophysical reaction rate of the 14N(p,gamma)15O reaction and therefore the astrophysical consequences are not changed by the present results.
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 $^{10}$B(p,$alpha_0$)$^7$Be bare nucleus astrophysical S(E)-factor has been measured for the first time at energies from about 100 keV down to about 5 keV by means of the Trojan Horse Method (THM). In this energy region, the S(E)-factor is strongly dominated by the 8.699 MeV $^{11}$C level (J$^{pi}$=$frac{5}{2}$$^+$), producing an s-wave resonance centered at about 10 keV in the entrance channel. Up to now, only the high energy tail of this resonant has been measured, while the low-energy trend is extrapolated from the available direct data. The THM has been applied to the quasi-free $^2$H($^{10}$B,$alpha_0$$^7$Be)n reaction induced at a boron-beam energy of 24.5 MeV. An accurate analysis brings to the determination of the $^{10}$B(p,$alpha_0$)$^7$Be S(E)-factor and of the corresponding electron screening potential $U_e$, thus giving for the first time an independent evaluation of it.
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