Heavy ION transfer reactions in nuclear astrophysical processes

Abstract

AN appraisal of nuclear reactions in heavy ion systems which are known to be of importance in nuclear astrophysical processes indicated that reactions involving transfer of α particles could be of significant strength and hence should be included in reaction network studies which lead to the prediction of stellar abundances, The heavy ion systems of interest are ¹⁶O + ¹⁶O, ¹²C + ¹⁶O and ¹²C + ¹²C. Preliminary results from a recent experiment (T. W. C., B. W. Hooton and G. Murray, to be published) have shown in the case of the ¹²C + ¹⁶O system that, at energies of astrophysical importance, the channel leading to ²⁰Ne + 2α, which corresponds to the transfer on α particle, is of significant strength. This result influences predictions of the abundance of ²⁰Ne and that of elements depending on ²⁰Ne for their subsequent formation.