Reaction rates for the ${}^{39}$K(p,$\gamma$)${}^{40}$Ca reaction

Abstract

The magnesium-potassium anti-correlation observed in globular cluster NGC2419 can be explained by nuclear burning of hydrogen in hot environments. The exact site of this nuclear burning is, as yet, unknown. In order to constrain the sites responsible for this anti-correlation, the nuclear reactions involved must be well understood. The ${}^{39}$K+p reactions are one such pair of reactions. Here, we report a new evaluation of the ${}^{39}$K(p,$\gamma$)${}^{40}$Ca reaction rate by taking into account ambiguities and measurement uncertainties in the nuclear data. The uncertainty in the ${}^{39}$K(p,$\gamma$)${}^{40}$Ca reaction rate is larger than previously assumed, and its influence on nucleosynthesis models is demonstrated. We find the ${}^{39}$K(p,$\gamma$)${}^{40}$Ca reaction cross section should be the focus of future experimental study to help constrain models aimed at explaining the magnesium-potassium anti-correlation in globular clusters.

15 pages, 7 figures, accepted to Phys. Rev. C

References in corpus (4)

• Chemical evolution with rotating massive star yields: I. The solar neighbourhood and the s-process elements
• Statistical Methods for Thermonuclear Reaction Rates and Nucleosynthesis Simulations
• Sensitivity to Thermonuclear Reaction Rates in Modeling the Abundance Anomalies of NGC 2419
• Correlated Uncertainties in Monte Carlo Reaction Rate Calculations

Cited by in corpus (4)

• Sensitivity of ${}^{44}$Ti and ${}^{56}$Ni production in CCSN shock-driven nucleosynthesis to reaction rates
• Investigation of ${}^{11}$B and ${}^{40}$Ca levels at 8-9 MeV by Nuclear Resonance Fluorescence
• The 2025 Evaluation of Experimental Thermonuclear Reaction Rates (ETR25)
• Calcium Excess in Novae: Beyond Nuclear Physics Uncertainties