Determination of the astrophysical S factor for C-11(p,gamma)N-12 from the N-12 -> C-11+p asymptotic normalization coefficient

Abstract

The evolution of very low-metallicity, massive stars depends critically on the amount of CNO nuclei that they produce. Alternative paths from the slow 3alpha process to produce CNO seed nuclei could change their fate. The C-11(p,gamma)N-12 reaction is an important branch point in one such alternative path. At energies appropriate to stellar evolution of very low-metallicity, massive stars, nonresonant capture dominates the reaction rate. We have determined the astrophysical S factor for the C-11(p,gamma)N-12 reaction using the asymptotic normalization coefficient for N-12-->C-11+p to fix the nonresonant capture rate. In our experiment, a 110 MeV C-11 radioactive beam was used to study the(14)N(C-11,N-12)C-13 peripheral transfer reaction and the asymptotic normalization coefficient, (C-peff(12N))(2)=(C-p1/2(12N))(2)+(C-p3/2(12N))(2)=1.73+/-0.25 fm(-1), was extracted from the measured cross section. The contributions from the second resonance and interference effects were estimated using an R-matrix approach with the measured asymptotic normalization coefficient and the latest value for Gamma(gamma). We find the S factor for C-11(p,gamma)N-12 is significantly larger than previous estimates. As a result, the required density for it to contribute is reduced, and more CNO material may be produced.

Description

Journals published by the American Physical Society can be found at http://publish.aps.org/

Keywords

COUPLED-CHANNELS CALCULATIONS, NUCLEI, MODEL, Physics

Citation

XD Tang, A. Azhari, Carl A. Gagliardi, A. M. Mukhamedzhanov, F. Pirlepesov, L. Trache, Robert E. Tribble, V. Burjan, V. Kroha and F. Carstoiu. Phys.Rev.C 67 015804 2003. "Copyright (2003) by the American Physical Society."