Decay properties of 22Ne + resonances and their impacton s-process nucleosynthesis
2020
The astrophysical s-process is one of the two main processes forming elements heavier
than iron. A key outstanding uncertainty surrounding s-process nucleosynthesis
is the neutron flux generated by the 22Ne(�; n)25Mg reaction during the He-core and
C-shell burning phases of massive stars. This reaction, as well as the competing
22Ne(�;)26Mg reaction, is not well constrained in the important temperature regime
from �0:2–0:4 GK, owing to uncertainties in the nuclear properties of resonances lying
within the Gamow window. To address these uncertainties, we have performed
a new measurement of the 22Ne(6Li; d)26Mg reaction in inverse kinematics, detecting
the outgoing deuterons and 25;26Mg recoils in coincidence. We have established a
new n=
decay branching ratio of 1:14(26) for the key Ex = 11:32 MeV resonance in
26Mg, which results in a new (�; n) strength for this resonance of 42(11) �eV when
combined with the well-established (�;
) strength of this resonance. We have also determined
new upper limits on the � partial widths of neutron-unbound resonances at
Ex = 11:112; 11:163, 11:169, and 11:171 MeV. Monte-Carlo calculations of the stellar 22Ne(�; n)25Mg and 22Ne(�;
)26Mg rates, which incorporate these results, indicate
that both rates are substantially lower than previously thought in the temperature range
from �0:2–0:4 GK.
Keywords:
- Correction
- Source
- Cite
- Save
- Machine Reading By IdeaReader
0
References
0
Citations
NaN
KQI