First Accurate Normalization of the β -delayed α Decay of N 16 and Implications for the C 12 (α,γ) O 16 Astrophysical Reaction Rate
Journal article, 2018
Published by the American Physical Society. The C12(α,γ)O16 reaction plays a central role in astrophysics, but its cross section at energies relevant for astrophysical applications is only poorly constrained by laboratory data. The reduced α width, γ11, of the bound 1- level in O16 is particularly important to determine the cross section. The magnitude of γ11 is determined via sub-Coulomb α-transfer reactions or the β-delayed α decay of N16, but the latter approach is presently hampered by the lack of sufficiently precise data on the β-decay branching ratios. Here we report improved branching ratios for the bound 1- level [bβ,11=(5.02±0.10)×10-2] and for β-delayed α emission [bβα=(1.59±0.06)×10-5]. Our value for bβα is 33% larger than previously held, leading to a substantial increase in γ11. Our revised value for γ11 is in good agreement with the value obtained in α-transfer studies and the weighted average of the two gives a robust and precise determination of γ11, which provides significantly improved constraints on the C12(α,γ) cross section in the energy range relevant to hydrostatic He burning.
Thermonuclear reactions
Nuclear reactions
Author
O. S. Kirsebom
Aarhus University
O. Tengblad
CSIC - Instituto de Estructura de la Materia (IEM)
R. Lica
Horia Hulubei National Institute for R&D in Physics and Nuclear Engineering
CERN
M. Munch
Aarhus University
K. Riisager
Aarhus University
H. O. U. Fynbo
Aarhus University
M. Borge
CSIC - Instituto de Estructura de la Materia (IEM)
CERN
M. Madurga
CERN
I. Marroquin
CSIC - Instituto de Estructura de la Materia (IEM)
A. Andreyev
University of York
Japan Atomic Energy Agency
Tom Berry
University of Surrey
Esben R. Christensen
Aarhus University
Paloma Diaz Fernandez
Chalmers, Physics, Subatomic and Plasma Physics
D. T. Doherty
University of York
P. Van Duppen
KU Leuven
L. M. Fraile
Complutense University
Mariano C. Gallardo
Complutense University
P. T. Greenlees
University of Jyväskylä
University of Helsinki
L. J. Harkness-Brennan
University of Liverpool
Nicolas Hubbard
University of York
Aarhus University
M. Huyse
KU Leuven
J. H. Jensen
Aarhus University
Håkan T Johansson
Chalmers, Physics, Subatomic and Plasma Physics
Björn Jonson
Chalmers, Physics, Subatomic and Plasma Physics
D. S. Judson
University of Liverpool
J. Konki
University of Jyväskylä
University of Helsinki
CERN
I. Lazarus
Daresbury Laboratory
M. V. Lund
Aarhus University
N. Marginean
Horia Hulubei National Institute for R&D in Physics and Nuclear Engineering
R. Marginean
Horia Hulubei National Institute for R&D in Physics and Nuclear Engineering
A. Perea
CSIC - Instituto de Estructura de la Materia (IEM)
C. Mihai
Horia Hulubei National Institute for R&D in Physics and Nuclear Engineering
A. Negret
Horia Hulubei National Institute for R&D in Physics and Nuclear Engineering
R. D. Page
University of Liverpool
V. Pucknell
Daresbury Laboratory
P. Rahkila
University of Helsinki
University of Jyväskylä
Olivier Sorlin
CERN
IN2P3 Institut National de Physique Nucleaire et de Physique des Particules
C. Sotty
Horia Hulubei National Institute for R&D in Physics and Nuclear Engineering
Jacobus A. Swartz
Aarhus University
H. B. Sørensen
Aarhus University
Hans Törnqvist
Helmholtz
Technische Universität Darmstadt
V. Vedia
Complutense University
N. Warr
University of Cologne
H. De Witte
KU Leuven
Physical Review Letters
0031-9007 (ISSN) 1079-7114 (eISSN)
Vol. 121 14 142701Subject Categories
Accelerator Physics and Instrumentation
Subatomic Physics
Atom and Molecular Physics and Optics
DOI
10.1103/PhysRevLett.121.142701
PubMed
30339438