Abstract
The cross section of the C13(α,n)O16 reaction is needed for nuclear astrophysics and applications to a precision of 10% or better, yet inconsistencies among 50 years of experimental studies currently lead to an uncertainty of ≈15%. Using a state-of-the-art neutron detection array, we have performed a high resolution differential cross section study covering a broad energy range. These measurements result in a dramatic improvement in the extrapolation of the cross section to stellar energies potentially reducing the uncertainty to ≈5% and resolving long standing discrepancies in higher energy data.
Original language | English |
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Article number | 062702 |
Journal | Physical Review Letters |
Volume | 132 |
Issue number | 6 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Feb 9 2024 |
Funding
This research utilized resources from the Notre Dame Center for Research Computing. Researchers at the University of Notre Dame were funded by the National Science Foundation through Grant No. PHY-2011890 (University of Notre Dame Nuclear Science Laboratory) and Grant No. PHY-1430152 (the Joint Institute for Nuclear Astrophysics—Center for the Evolution of the Elements) and under Grant No. OISE-1927130 (IReNA). This material is based upon work supported by the U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Science, Office of Nuclear Physics, under Award No. DE-AC05-00OR22725. LANL researchers are supported by the U.S. Department of Energy, through the Los Alamos National Laboratory, operated by Triad National Security, LLC, for the National Nuclear Security Administration of U.S. Department of Energy (Contract No. 89233218CNA000001) and by the Office of Science, Office of Nuclear Physics, under the Nuclear Data InterAgency Working Group Research Program.