12C+12C fusion reactions near the Gamow energy.
The fusion reactions 12C(12C,alpha)20Ne and 12C(12C,p)23Na have been studied from E=2.10 to 4.75 MeV by gamma-ray spectroscopy using a C target with ultralow hydrogen contamination. The deduced astrophysical S(E)* factor exhibits new resonances at E< or =3.0 MeV, in particular, a strong resonance at E=2.14 MeV, which lies at the high-energy tail of the Gamow peak. The resonance increases the present nonresonant reaction rate of the alpha channel by a factor of 5 near T=8x10(8) K. Because of the resonance structure, extrapolation to the Gamow energy EG=1.5 MeV is quite uncertain. An experimental approach based on an underground accelerator placed in a salt mine in combination with a high efficiency detection setup could provide data over the full EG energy range.
Spillane
T
T
University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut, USA.
Raiola
F
F
Rolfs
C
C
Schürmann
D
D
Strieder
F
F
Zeng
S
S
Becker
H-W
HW
Bordeanu
C
C
Gialanella
L
L
Romano
M
M
Schweitzer
J
J