Direct study of the alpha-nucleus optical potential at astrophysical energies using the 64Zn(p,alpha)61Cu reaction

Abstract

In the model calculations of heavy element nucleosynthesis processes the nuclear reaction rates are taken from statistical model calculations which utilize various nuclear input parameters. It is found that in the case of reactions involving alpha particles the calculations bear a high uncertainty owing to the largely unknown low energy alpha-nucleus optical potential. Experiments are typically restricted to higher energies and therefore no direct astrophysical consequences can be drawn. In the present work a (p,alpha) reaction is used for the first time to study the alpha-nucleus optical potential. The measured 64Zn(p,alpha)61Cu cross section is uniquely sensitive to the alpha-nucleus potential and the measurement covers the whole astrophysically relevant energy range. By the comparison to model calculations, direct evidence is provided for the incorrectness of global optical potentials used in astrophysical models.

arXiv commentAccepted for publication in Physical Review C as a Rapid Communication

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• First direct measurement of ${}^{59}$Cu(p,$\alpha$)${}^{56}$Ni: A step towards constraining the Ni-Cu cycle in the Cosmos
• Experimental techniques to study the $\gamma$ process for nuclear astrophysics at the Cologne accelerator laboratory
• Role of consistent parameter sets in an assessment of the alpha-particle optical potential below the Coulomb barrier
• Half-life measurement of 65Ga with gamma-spectroscopy
• Nuclear physics uncertainties of the astrophysical gamma-process studied through the 64Zn(p,alpha)61Cu and 64Zn(p,gamma)65Ga reactions