Resonances in 19Ne with relevance to the astrophysically important 18F(p,α)15O reaction

Abstract

The most intense gamma-ray line observable from novae is likely to be from positron annihilation associated with the decay of 18F. The uncertainty in the destruction rate of this nucleus through the 18F(p,α)15O reaction presents a limit to interpretation of any future observed gamma-ray flux. Direct measurements of the cross section of both this reaction and the 18F(p,p)18F reaction have been performed between center of mass energies of 0.5 and 1.9 MeV. Simultaneous fits to both data sets with the R-Matrix formalism reveal several resonances, with the inferred parameters of populated states in 19Ne in general agreement with previous measurements. Of particular interest, extra strength has been observed above ECM \sim1.3 MeV in the 18F(p,p)18F reaction and between 1.3-1.7 MeV in the 18F(p,α)15O reaction. This is well described by a broad 1/2+ state, consistent with both a recent theoretical prediction and an inelastic scattering measurement. The astrophysical implications of a broad sub-threshold partner to this state are discussed.

7 pages, 4 figures, 2 tables

Cited by in corpus (8)

• MESA and NuGrid simulations of classical novae: CO and ONe nova nucleosynthesis
• Is γ-ray emission from novae affected by interference effects in the 18F(p,α)15O reaction?
• Recent results in nuclear astrophysics
• Spectroscopy of ${}^{19}$Ne for the thermonuclear ${}^{15}$O($\alpha ,\gamma$)${}^{19}$Ne and ${}^{18}$F($p,\alpha$)${}^{15}$O reaction rates
• Uncertainties in the ${}^{18}$F(p,$\alpha$)${}^{15}$O reaction rate in classical novae
• Sub-threshold states in ${}^{19}$Ne relevant to ${}^{18}$F(p,$\alpha$)${}^{15}$O
• Spin-parities of sub-threshold resonances in the ${}^{18}$F(p, $\alpha$)${}^{15}$O reaction
• The 2025 Evaluation of Experimental Thermonuclear Reaction Rates (ETR25)