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New astrophysical S factor for the {sup 15}N(p,{gamma}){sup 16}O reaction via the asymptotic normalization coefficient (ANC) method

Journal Article · · Physical Review. C, Nuclear Physics
; ; ; ; ;  [1]; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ;  [2]; ; ; ;  [3]
  1. Cyclotron Institute, Texas A and M University, College Station, Texas 77843 (United States)
  2. Nuclear Physics Institute, Czech Academy of Sciences, 250 68 Rez near Prague (Czech Republic)
  3. Universita di Catania and INFN Laboratori Nazionali del Sud, Catania (Italy)

The {sup 15}N(p,{gamma}){sup 16}O reaction provides a path from the CN cycle to the CNO bi-cycle and CNO tri-cycle. The measured astrophysical factor for this reaction is dominated by resonant capture through two strong J{sup {pi}}=1{sup -} resonances at E{sub R}=312 and 962 keV and direct capture to the ground state. Asymptotic normalization coefficients (ANCs) for the ground and seven excited states in {sup 16}O were extracted from the comparison of experimental differential cross sections for the {sup 15}N({sup 3}He,d){sup 16}O reaction with distorted-wave Born approximation calculations. Using these ANCs and proton and {alpha} resonance widths determined from an R-matrix fit to the data from the {sup 15}N(p,{alpha}){sup 12}C reaction, we carried out an R-matrix calculation to obtain the astrophysical factor for the {sup 15}N(p,{gamma}){sup 16}O reaction. The results indicate that the direct capture contribution was previously overestimated. We find the astrophysical factor to be S(0)=36.0{+-}6.0 keV b, which is about a factor of 2 lower than the presently accepted value. We conclude that for every 2200{+-}300 cycles of the main CN cycle one CN catalyst is lost due to this reaction.

OSTI ID:
21192069
Journal Information:
Physical Review. C, Nuclear Physics, Journal Name: Physical Review. C, Nuclear Physics Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 78; ISSN 0556-2813; ISSN PRVCAN
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English