Non-resonant triple alpha reaction rate at low temperature

Our experimental goal is to study the non-resonant triple alpha reaction rate at low temperture (T < 108 K). The 13C(p,d) reaction at 66 MeV has been used to probe the alpha-unbound continuum state in 12C just below the 2nd 0+ state at 7.65 MeV. The transition strength to the continuum state is predicted to be sensitive to the non-resonant triple alpha reaction rate. The experiment has been performed at iThemba LABS. We report the present status of the experiment.