Analysis of the $^{3}{\rm He}(α, γ)^{7}{\rm Be}$ and $^{3}{\rm H}(α,γ)^{7}{\rm Li}$ astrophysical direct capture reactions in a modified potential-model approach
Astrophysical $S$ factors and reaction rates of the direct radiative capture processes $^{3}{\rm He}(α, γ)^{7}{\rm Be}$ and $^{3}{\rm H}(α,γ)^{7}{\rm Li}$, as well as the primordial abundance of the $^{7}{\rm Li}$ element, are estimated in the framework of a modified two-body potential model. It is shown that suitable modification of phase-equivalent $α-^{3}{\rm He}$ potentials in the $d$ waves can improve the description of the astrophysical $S$ factor for the direct $^{3}{\rm He}(α, γ)^{7}{\rm Be}$ radiative capture reaction at energies above 0.5 MeV. An estimated $^{7}{\rm Li/H}$ abundance ratio of $(4.89\pm 0.18 )\times 10^{-10}$ is in very good agreement with the recent measurement of $(5.0\pm 0.3) \times 10^{-10}$ by the LUNA collaboration.
A new astrophysical reaction rate for $^{12}$C($α,γ$)$^{16}$O has been evaluated on the basis of a global R-matrix fitting to the available experimental data. The reaction rates of $^{12}$C($α,γ$)$^{16}$O for stellar temperatures between 0.04 $\leq$ $T_9$ $\leq$ 10 are provided in a tabular form and by an analytical fitting expression. At $T_9$ = 0.2, the reaction rate is (7.83 $\pm$ 0.35)$\times10^{15}$ $\rm{cm^3 mol^{-1} s^{-1}}$, where stellar helium burning occurs.
Nucleosynthesis processes involve reactions on several thousand nuclei, both close to and far off stability. The preparation of reaction rates to be used in astrophysical investigations requires experimental and theoretical input. In this context, two interesting aspects are discussed: (i) the relevant gamma transition energies in astrophysical capture reactions, and (ii) the newly discovered Coulomb suppression of the stellar enhancement factor. The latter makes a number of reactions with negative Q value more favorable for experimental investigation than their inverse reactions, contrary to …
The relevant energy ranges for stellar nuclear reactions are introduced. Low-energy compound and direct reactions are discussed. Stellar modifications of the cross sections are presented. Implications for experiments are outlined.
The hindrance phenomenon of heavy-ion fusion cross sections at deep subbarrier energies often accompanies a maximum of an astrophysical $S$ factor at a threshold energy for fusion hindrance. We argue that this phenomenon can naturally be explained when the fusion excitation function is fitted with two potentials, with a larger (smaller) logarithmic slope at energies lower (higher) than the threshold energy. This analysis clearly suggests that the astrophysical $S$ factor provides a convenient tool to analyze the deep subbarrier hindrance phenomenon, even though the $S$ factor may have a strong…
The theoretical cross section calculations for the astrophysical $p$ process are needed because the most of the related reactions are technically very difficult to be measured in the laboratory. Even if the reaction was measured, most of the measured reactions have been carried out at the higher energy range from the astrophysical energies. Therefore, almost all cross sections needed for $p$ process simulation has to be theoretically calculated or extrapolated to the astrophysical energies. The $^{112}$Sn($α$,$γ$)$^{116}$Te is an important reaction for the $p$ process nucleosynthesis. The theo…
We study the combined effects of vacuum polarization, relativity, Bremsstrahlung, and atomic polarization in nuclear reactions of astrophysical interest. It is shown that these effects do not solve the longstanding differences between the experimental data of astrophysical nuclear reactions at very low energies and the theoretical calculations which aim to include electron screening.
A relationship between the Coulomb inclusive break-up probability and the radiative capture reaction rate for weakly-bound three-body systems is established. This direct link provides a robust procedure to estimate the reaction rate for nuclei of astrophysical interest by measuring inclusive break-up processes at different energies and angles. This might be an advantageous alternative to the determination of reaction rates from the measurement of $B(E1)$ distributions through exclusive Coulomb break-up experiments. In addition, it provides a reference to assess the validity of different theore…
Cross sections of laboratory CNO and rp astrophysical reactions are enhanced due to the presence of the multi-electron cloud that surrounds the target nuclei. As a result the relevant astrophysical factors are overestimated unless corrected appropriately. This study gives both an estimate of the error committed if screening effects are not taken into account and a rough profile of the laboratory energy thresholds at which the screening effect appears. The results indicate that, for most practical purposes, screening corrections to past relevant experiments can be disregarded. Regarding future …
We derived analytic formulas of the effective S astrophysical S factor,S^eff for a non-resonant reaction of charged particles using a Taylor expension of the astrophysical S factor and a uniform approximation.The formulas will be able to generate generate more accurate approximation to S^eff than previous ones.
In a recent work, the cross section measurement of the 64Zn(p,alpha)61Cu reaction was used to prove that the standard alpha-nucleus optical potentials used in astrophysical network calculation fail to reproduce the experimental data at energies relevant for heavy element nucleosynthesis. In the present paper the analysis of the obtained experimental data is continued by comparing the results with the predictions using different parameters. It is shown that the recently suggested modification of the standard optical potential leads to a better description of the data.
A semi-microscopic model for the low-energy photodisintegration of the 9Be nucleus is constructed, and the experimental data are analyzed with its help. The older radioactive isotope data are supported by this analysis. The theoretical photodisintegration cross section is derived. The astrophysical rates for the reaction alpha + alpha + n -> 9Be + gamma and the reverse photodisintegration of 9Be are calculated. The new reaction rate for alpha + alpha + n -> 9Be + gamma is compared with previous estimations.
Semimicroscopic optical potentials for low energy proton reactions in mass 90-100 region have been obtained by folding the density dependent M3Y interaction with relativistic mean field densities. Certain parameters in the potential have been deduced by comparing calculated results with the data for elastic scattering. Low energy proton reactions in this mass region have been studied in the formalism with success. Rates of important astrophysical reaction in the mass region have been calculated.
At the long-wavelength approximation, electric dipole transitions are forbidden between isospin-zero states. In an $α+n+p$ model with $T = 1$ contributions, the $α(d,γ)^6$Li astrophysical $S$-factor is in agreement with the experimental data of the LUNA collaboration, without adjustable parameter. The exact-masses prescription used to avoid the disappearance of $E1$ transitions in potential models is not founded at the microscopic level.
In the model calculations of heavy element nucleosynthesis processes the nuclear reaction rates are taken from statistical model calculations which utilize various nuclear input parameters. It is found that in the case of reactions involving alpha particles the calculations bear a high uncertainty owing to the largely unknown low energy alpha-nucleus optical potential. Experiments are typically restricted to higher energies and therefore no direct astrophysical consequences can be drawn. In the present work a (p,alpha) reaction is used for the first time to study the alpha-nucleus optical pote…
Optical potential parameters in nuclear model calculations are determined by fitting elastic scattering angular distribution data. Due to the dominance of Coulomb part, elastic scattering is performed at much higher energies. A different approach using ($α$,n) reaction is suggested to determine the alpha optical potentials suitable for astrophysically relevant low energy regions. Reaction on p-nuclei in the mass region A $\approx$ 92-168 have been chosen and a modified McFadden-Satchler $α$-optical potential is obtained from fitting the ($α$,n) reaction data. The effect of level density and $γ…
We summarize recent ab initio studies of low-energy electroweak reactions of astrophysical interest, relevant for both big bang nucleosynthesis and solar neutrino production. The calculational methods include direct integration for np radiative and pp weak capture, correlated hyperspherical harmonics for reactions of A=3,4 nuclei, and variational Monte Carlo for A=6,7 nuclei. Realistic nucleon-nucleon and three-nucleon interactions and consistent current operators are used as input.
The potential model for nuclear astrophysical reactions requires a considerably shallow nuclear potential when a square-well potential is employed to fit experimental data. We discuss the origin of this apparently different behavior from that obtained with a smooth Woods-Saxon potential, for which a deep potential is often employed. We argue that due to the sharp change of the potential at the boundary the radius parameter tends to be large in the square-well model, which results in a large absorption radius. The wave function then needs to be suppressed in the absorption region, which can eve…
Microscopic optical potentials obtained by folding the DDM3Y interaction with the densities from Relativistic Mean Field approach have been utilized to evaluate S-factors of low-energy $(p,γ)$ reactions in mass 60-80 region and to compare with experiments. The Lagrangian density FSU Gold has been employed. Astrophysical rates for important proton capture reactions have been calculated to study the behaviour of rapid proton nucleosynthesis for waiting point nuclei with mass less than A=80.
Two models are presented for the description of the electron screening effects that appear in laboratory nuclear reactions at astrophysical energies. The two-electron screening energy of the first model agrees very well with the recent LUNA experimental result for the break-up reaction $% He3(He3,2p)He^{4}$, which so far defies all available theoretical models. Moreover, multi-electron effects that enhance laboratory reactions of the CNO cycle and other advanced nuclear burning stages, are also studied by means of the Thomas-Fermi model, deriving analytical formulae that establish a lower and …
We discuss the effect of electromagnetic environment on laboratory measurements of the nuclear fusion reactions of astrophysical interest. The radiation field is eliminated using the path integral formalism in order to obtain the influence functional, which we evaluate in the semi-classical approximation. We show that enhancement of the tunneling probability due to the radiation correction is extremely small and does not resolve the longstanding problem that the observed electron screening effect is significantly larger than theoretical predictions.
The $^{12}$C($α,γ$)$^{16}$O reaction, an important component of stellar helium burning, plays a key role in nuclear astrophysics. It has direct impact on the evolution and final state of massive stars, while also influencing the elemental abundances resulting from nucleosynthesis in such stars. Providing a reliable estimate for the energy dependence of this reaction at stellar helium burning temperatures has been a major goal for the field. In this work, we study the role of potential new measurements of the inverse reaction, $^{16}$O($γ,α$)$^{12}$C, in reducing the overall uncertainty. A mult…
The cross sections for the deep sub-barrier fusion reaction of light nuclei are calculated within the theoretical framework of the selective resonant tunneling model. In this model, assumption of a complex square-well nuclear potential is invoked to describe the absorption inside the nuclear well. The theoretical estimates for these cross sections agree well with the experimentally measured values. The features of the astrophysical S-factor are derived in terms of this model. Present formalism appears to be particularly useful for the low energy resonant reactions between two charged nuclei.
The proton transfer ${\rm{^7Be}}$($d$,$n$)${\rm{^8B}}$ reaction at the energy of 4.5 MeV (c.m.) has been analysed within the modified DWBA. New estimates and their uncertainties are obtained for values of the asymptotic normalization coefficients for $p + {\rm{^7Be}} \to {\rm{^8B}}$, the astrophysical $S_{17}(0)$ factor and the s-wave $p + {\rm{^7Be}}$ scattering lengths.
The halo effect in the final states of astrophysically relevant direct neutron--capture reactions by neutron--rich nuclei is discussed. As an example, we calculate the cross sections for $^{18}$O(n,$γ$)$^{19}$O at thermonuclear and thermal energies.
We discuss the effects of non-inertial motion in reactions occurring in laboratory, stars, and elsewhere. It is demonstrated that non-inertial effects due to large accelerations during nuclear collisions might have appreciable effects nuclear and atomic transitions. We also explore the magnitude of the corrections induced by strong gravitational fields on nuclear reactions in massive, compact stars, and the neighborhood of black holes.
The astrophysical $S$-factor for the reaction $^7$Be(p,$γ$)$^8$B up to an energy of 2~MeV (c.m.) and the capture cross section of $^7$Li(n,$γ$)$^8$Li up to 1~MeV (c.m.) are calculated using the Direct Capture model (DC). Both calculations are in good agreement with experimental data.
Sensitivities of nuclear reaction rates to a variation of nuclear properties are studied. Target nuclei range from proton- to neutron-dripline for 10<=Z<=83. Reactions considered are nucleon- and alpha-induced reactions mediated by the strong interaction. The contribution of reactions proceeding on the target ground state to the total stellar rate is also given. General dependences on various input quantities are discussed. Additionally, sensitivities of laboratory cross sections of nucleon-, alpha-, and gamma-induced reactions are shown, allowing to estimate the impact of cross section measur…
In the frame of modified potential cluster model based on the classification of orbital states by Young diagrams and revised interaction potential parameters for the bound states of 7Be in 3He4He cluster model with forbidden states the astrophysical S-factor for the radiative capture reaction has been calculated from the 10 keV. Obtained results S(23 keV) = 0.561 keV b reproduce the latest experimental data at 23 keV. Calculated and parametrized reaction rate is compared to some results known in the range of temperatures from 0.05 to 5 T9.
The quantum diffusion approach is extended to low energy fusion (capture) reactions of light- and medium-mass nuclei. The dependence of the friction parameter on bombarding energy is taken into account. A simple analytic expression is obtained for the capture probability at extreme sub-barrier energies. The calculated cross-sections are in a good agreement with the experimental data. The fusion excitation functions calculated within the quantum diffusion and WKB approaches are compared and presented in the astrophysical $S$-factor representation.
We study the breakup of 9Li projectiles in high energy (28.5 MeV/u) collisions with heavy nuclear targets (208Pb). The wave functions are calculated using a single-particle model for 9Li, and a simple optical potential model for the scattering part. A good agreement with measured data is obtained with insignificant E2 contribution.
A recoil coincidence technique has been applied to measure the alpha-decay branching ratios of near-threshold states in 19Ne. Populating these states using the (p,t) reaction in inverse kinematics, we detected the recoils and their decay products with 100% geometric efficiency using a magnetic spectrometer. Combining our branching ratio measurements with independent determinations of the radiative widths of these states, we calculate the astrophysical rate of 15O(alpha,gamma)19Ne. Using this reaction rate, we perform hydrodynamic calculations of nova outbursts and conclude that no significant …
Effective energy windows (Gamow windows) of astrophysical reaction rates for (p,gamma), (p,n), (p,alpha), (alpha,gamma), (alpha,n), (alpha,p), (n,gamma), (n,p), and (n,alpha) on targets with 10<=Z<=83 from proton- to neutron-dripline are calculated using theoretical cross sections. It is shown that widely used approximation formulas for the relevant energy ranges are not valid for a large number of reactions relevant to hydrostatic and explosive nucleosynthesis. The influence of the energy dependence of the averaged widths on the location of the Gamow windows is discussed and the results prese…
Multi-Model Analysis of the Astrophysical $S(E)$ Factor for the $^{9}\mathrm{Be}(p,α)^{6}\mathrm{Li}$ Reaction and Its Impact on Astrophysical Reaction Rates
School of Physics, Anhui University（安徽大学物理学院）；School of Physics, Southern University of Science and Technology（南方科技大学物理学院）；College of Physics and Optoelectronic Engineering, Shenzhen University（深圳大学物理与光电工程学院）；Institute of Radiation Technology, Beijing Academy of Science and Technology（北京市科学技术研究院辐射技术研究所）；Department of Nuclear Physics, China Institute of Atomic Energy（中国原子能科学研究院核物理系）
The total cross sections of the radiative proton capture on 8Li at astrophysical energies were considered in the framework of the modified potential cluster model with forbidden states, with the classification of the orbital cluster states according to Young diagrams. The recalculation of total cross sections for the 9Be(γ,p0)8Li photodisintegration was used as experimental data. In whole, it is possible to obtain the available data on cross sections at energies to 7.0 MeV. Astrophysical S-factors and reaction rates at the temperature range of 0.01 to 10 T9 were calculated. It was shown that t…
We present here a robust analytical model based on nuclear reaction theory for non-resonant fusion cross sections near Coulomb barrier. The astrophysical $S$-factors involving stable and neutron rich isotopes of C, O, Ne, Mg and Si for fusion reactions have been calculated in the centre of mass energy range of 2-30 MeV. The model is based on the tunneling through barrier arising out of nuclear, Coulomb and centrifugal potentials. Our formalism predicts precisely the suppression of $S$-factor at sub-barrier energies which are of astrophysical interest. The cross sections can be convoluted with …
Radiative capture reactions play a crucial role in stellar nucleosynthesis but have proved challenging to determine experimentally. In particular, the large uncertainty ($\sim$100%) in the measured rate of the $^{12}$C$(α,γ)^{16}$O reaction is the largest source of uncertainty in any stellar evolution model. With development of new high current energy-recovery linear accelerators (ERLs) and high density gas targets, measurement of the $^{16}$O$(e,e^\prime α)^{12}$C reaction close to threshold using detailed balance opens up a new approach to determine the $^{12}$C$(α,γ)^{16}$O reaction rate wi…
A simple description for obtaining the parity distribution of nuclear levels in the pf + g9/2 shell as a function of excitation energy was recently derived. We implement this in a global nuclear level density model. In the framework of the statistical model, cross sections and astrophysical reaction rates are calculated in the Fe region and compared to rates obtained with the common assumption of an equal distribution of parities. We find considerable differences, especially for reactions involving particles in the exit channel.
The astrophysical S-factor of the 4He-12C radiative capture is calculated in the potential model at the energy range 0.1-2.0 MeV. Radiative capture 12C(α,γ)16O is extremely relevant for the fate of massive stars and determines if the remnant of a supernova explosion becomes a black hole or a neutron star. Because this reaction occurs at low-energies the experimental measurements is very difficult and perhaps impossible. In this paper, radiative capture of the 12C(α,γ)16O reaction at very low-energies is taken as a case study. In comparison with other theoretical methods and available experimen…
We study the effect of virtual Coulomb break-up, commonly known as the dipole polarizability, of the deuteron projectile on the astrophysical fusion reaction 3He(d,p)4He. We use the adiabatic approximation to estimate the potential shift due to the E1 transition to the continuum states in the deuteron, and compute the barrier penetrability in the WKB approximation. We find that the enhancement of the penetrability due to the deuteron break-up is too small to resolve the longstanding puzzle observed in laboratory measurements that the electron screening effect is surprisingly larger than theore…
The relationship between the Coulomb displacement energy for the A=8, J=2+, T=1 state and the low-energy astrophysical S factor for the Be7(p,gamma)B8 reaction is discussed. The displacement energy is interpreted in a particle-hole model. The dependence of the particle displacement energy on the potential well geometry is investigated and is used to relate the particle displacement energy to the rms radius and the asymptotic normalization of the valence proton wave function in B8. The asymptotic normalization is used to calculate the astrophysical S factor for the Be7(p,gamma)B8 reaction. The …
In a previous publication [Atomic Data and Nuclear Data Tables 75, 1 (2000)], we had given seven parameter analytical fits to theoretical reaction rates derived from nuclear cross sections calculated in the statistical model (Hauser-Feshbach formalism) for targets with 9<Z<84 (Ne to Bi) and for a mass range reaching the neutron and proton driplines. Reactions considered were (n,gamma), (n,p), (n,alpha), (p,gamma), (p,alpha), (alpha,gamma), and their inverse reactions. On public demand, we present here the theoretical nuclear cross sections and astrophysical reaction rates from which those rate…
The Feshbach theory of the optical potential naturally leads to a microscopic description of scattering in terms of the many-body self-energy. We consider a recent calculation of this quantity for 16O and study the possibility of applying it at astrophysical energies. The results obtained for the phase shifts and the 16O(p,γ) capture suggest that such studies are feasible but the calculations require some improvement geared to this specific task.
The majority of nuclear reactions in astrophysics involve unstable nuclei which are not fully accessible by experiments yet. Therefore, there is high demand for reliable predictions of cross sections and reaction rates by theoretical means. The majority of reactions can be treated in the framework of the statistical model (Hauser-Feshbach). The global parametrizations of the nuclear properties needed for predictions far off stability probe our understanding of the strong force and take it to its limit. The sensitivity of astrophysical scenarios to nuclear inputs is illustrated in the framework…
Microscopic calculations show a strong parity dependence of the nuclear level density at low excitation energy of a nucleus. Previously, this dependence has either been neglected or only implemented in the initial and final channels of Hauser-Feshbach calculations. We present an indirect way to account for a full parity dependence in all steps of a reaction, including the one of the compound nucleus formed in a reaction. To illustrate the impact on astrophysical reaction rates, we present rates for neutron captures in isotopic chains of Ni and Sn. Comparing with the standard assumption of equi…
The stopping power of protons and deuterons in low energy collisions with helium gas targets is investigated with the numerical solution of the time-dependent Schrödinger coupled-channels equations using molecular orbital wavefunctions. It is shown that at low projectile energies the energy loss is mainly due to nuclear stopping, charge exchange, and the excitation of low energy levels in the target. The second and third mechanisms, called electronic stopping, dominate for E>200 eV. At lower energies it is also shown that a threshold effect is responsible for a quick drop of the energy loss. T…
Reacting astrophysical flows can be challenging to model because of the difficulty in accurately coupling hydrodynamics and reactions. This can be particularly acute during explosive burning or at high temperatures where nuclear statistical equilibrium is established. We develop a new approach based on the ideas of spectral deferred corrections (SDC) coupling of explicit hydrodynamics and stiff reaction sources as an alternative to operator splitting that is simpler than the more comprehensive SDC approach we demonstrated previously. We apply the new method to a double detonation problem with …
We calculate the electron screening effect in low energy nuclear fusion reactions by taking non-adiabaticity of the tunnleing process into account. In order to investigate deviations from the adiabatic limit, we use the dynamical norm method, which has recently been developed by the present authors. Using $d$+D reaction as an example, we show that the screening energy never exceeds those estimated in the adiabatic approximation. Our calculations indicate that the non-adiabatic effect is important both in classically allowed and classically forbidden processes.
The total cross sections of the neutron radiative capture on 12B at astrophysical energies to the ground state of 13B have been calculated in the energy range of 10E-8 to 10 MeV within the framework of a modified potential cluster model with the classification of orbital states according to Young diagrams. Reaction rates in the temperature range of 0.01 to 10 T9 and their analytical parameterization were obtained. The calculated rates of 12B(n,gamma)13B excess the previous results by approximately to one order. Cross sections and reaction rates of 12C(n,gamma)13C are calculated and compared to…
Nuclear reaction rates of astrophysical applications are traditionally determined on the basis of Hauser-Feshbach reaction codes. These codes adopt a number of approximations that have never been tested, such as a simplified width fluctuation correction, the neglect of delayed or multiple-particle emission during the electromagnetic decay cascade, or the absence of the pre-equilibrium contribution at increasing incident energies. The reaction code TALYS has been recently updated to estimate the Maxwellian-averaged reaction rates that are of astrophysical relevance. These new developments enabl…
We have calculated astrophysical reaction cross-sections for $(γ,α)$ reactions of some nuclei important for the calculation of $p$-process reaction-decay network. Reaction rates for $α$-induced reactions are calculated with the semi-microscopic optical potential constructed using double folding method, where nuclear density distributions for finite nuclei along with the effective nucleon-nucleon interaction are the important components of the folded potential. For this purpose density distributions of target nuclei are obtained from relativistic mean field approach. Astrophysical reaction cros…
Effective astrophysical factors for non-resonant astrophysical nuclear reaction are invariably calculated with respect to a zero energy limit. In the present work that limit is shown to be very disadvantageous compared to the more natural effective energy limit. The latter is used in order to modify the thermonuclear reaction rate formula so that it takes into account both plasma and laboratory screening effects.
Recent analyses of several isospin effects in heavy-ion reactions have allowed us to constrain the density dependence of nuclear symmetry energy at sub-saturation densities within a narrow range. Combined with constraints on the Equation of State (EOS) of symmetric nuclear matter obtained previously from analyzing the elliptic flow in relativistic heavy-ion collisions, the EOS of neutron-rich nuclear matter is thus partially constrained. Here we report effects of the partially constrained EOS of neutron-rich nuclear matter on the mass-radius correlation, moment of inertia, elliptical deformati…
We estimate the ratios of bare astrophysical S-factors at zero incident energy for proton and deuteron induced reactions in a model which assumes a compound nucleus formation probability plus a statistical decay. The obtained ratios agree well with available experimental values, as far as the reactions which have dominant s-wave entrance channel components are investigated. Due to its simplicity the model could be used as a guidance for predictions on reactions which have not been investigated yet.
The astrophysical S-factor for the process p7Be --> 8Bgamma of radiative capture by the 8B ground state is described up to 5 MeV, within the modified potential cluster model. The signatures of the S-factor resonances at 0.632, 2.18 and 3.36 MeV due to M1 and E2 transitions from the scattering of resonance 3P1, 3F3 and 3D2 waves to the ground 3P2 state are illuminated using total cross sections, astrophysical S-factors and reaction rates at temperatures from 0.01 to 10.0 T9. Experimental data on the S-factor are reproduced well in the range 100 keV to 3 MeV. The importance of the input of the 0…
