Measurement of the ${}^{58}$Ni($\alpha$,$\gamma$)${}^{62}$Zn reaction and its astrophysical impact

Abstract

Cross section measurements of the ${}^{58}$Ni($\alpha$,$\gamma$)${}^{62}$Zn reaction were performed in the energy range $E_{\alpha }=5.5-9.5$ MeV at the Nuclear Science Laboratory of the University of Notre Dame, using the NSCL Summing NaI(Tl) detector and the $\gamma$-summing technique. The measurements are compared to predictions in the statistical Hauser-Feshbach model of nuclear reactions using the SMARAGD code. It is found that the energy dependence of the cross section is reproduced well but the absolute value is overestimated by the prediction. This can be remedied by rescaling the $\alpha$ width by a factor of 0.45. Stellar reactivities were calculated with the rescaled $\alpha$ width and their impact on nucleosynthesis in type Ia supernovae has been studied. It is found that the resulting abundances change by up to 5\% when using the new reactivities.

6 pages, 3 figures

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• The r-process of stellar nucleosynthesis: Astrophysics and nuclear physics achievements and mysteries
• Sensitivity of p-Process Nucleosynthesis to Nuclear Reaction Rates in a 25 Solar Mass Supernova Model
• Sensitivity study of explosive nucleosynthesis in Type Ia supernovae: I. Modification of individual thermonuclear reaction rates

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• Total and partial cross sections of the ${}^{112}$Sn($\alpha ,\gamma$)${}^{116}$Te reaction measured via in-beam $\gamma$-ray spectroscopy
• $\alpha$-scattering and $\alpha$-induced reaction cross sections of ${}^{64}$Zn at low energies
• Analysis of uncertainties in alpha-particle optical-potential assessment below the Coulomb barrier