Experimental evidence of a natural parity state in ${}^{26}$Mg and its impact to the production of neutrons for the s process

Abstract

We have studied natural parity states in ${}^{26}$Mg via the ${}^{22}$Ne(${}^6$Li,d)${}^{26}$Mg reaction. Our method significantly improves the energy resolution of previous experiments and, as a result, we report the observation of a natural parity state in ${}^{26}$Mg. Possible spin-parity assignments are suggested on the basis of published $\gamma$-ray decay experiments. The stellar rate of the ${}^{22}$Ne($\alpha$,$\gamma$)${}^{26}$Mg reaction is reduced and may give rise to an increase in the production of s-process neutrons via the ${}^{22}$Ne($\alpha$,n)${}^{25}$Mg reaction.

Published in PRC