Coulomb dissociation of ${}^{20,21}$N

Abstract

Neutron-rich light nuclei and their reactions play an important role for the creation of chemical elements. Here, data from a Coulomb dissociation experiment on ${}^{20,21}$N are reported. Relativistic ${}^{20,21}$N ions impinged on a lead target and the Coulomb dissociation cross section was determined in a kinematically complete experiment. Using the detailed balance theorem, the ${}^{19}\mathrm{N}(\mathrm{n},{\hat{I}}^3{)}^{20}\mathrm{N}$ and ${}^{20}\mathrm{N}(\mathrm{n},{\hat{I}}^3{)}^{21}\mathrm{N}$ excitation functions and thermonuclear reaction rates have been determined. The ${}^{19}\mathrm{N}(\mathrm{n},{\hat{I}}^3{)}^{20}\mathrm{N}$ rate is up to a factor of 5 higher at $T<1$\,GK with respect to previous theoretical calculations, leading to a 10\,\% decrease in the predicted fluorine abundance.