Direct study of the α-nucleus optical potential at astrophysical energies using the Zn64(p,α)Cu61 reaction

Gyürky, György and Fülöp, Zsolt and Halász, Zoltán and Kiss, Gábor Gyula and Szücs, Tamás (2014) Direct study of the α-nucleus optical potential at astrophysical energies using the Zn64(p,α)Cu61 reaction. PHYSICAL REVIEW C, 90 (5). ISSN 2469-9985

Preview

Text 1411.4827.pdf Available under License Creative Commons Attribution. Download (263kB) | Preview

Abstract

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,α) reaction is used for the first time to study the alpha-nucleus optical potential. The measured 64Zn(p,α) 61Cu cross section is uniquely sensitive to the alpha-nucleus potential and the measurement covers the whole astrophysically relevant energy range. By the comparison to model calculations, direct evidence is provided for the incorrectness of global optical potentials used in astrophysical models.

Actions (login required)

Edit Item