Constraining the Neutron Star Compactness: Extraction of the ${}^{23}$Al($p,\gamma$) Reaction Rate for the $rp$-Process

Abstract

The ${}^{23}$Al($p,\gamma$)${}^{24}$Si reaction is among the most important reactions driving the energy generation in Type-I X-ray bursts. However, the present reaction-rate uncertainty limits constraints on neutron star properties that can be achieved with burst model-observation comparisons. Here, we present a novel technique for constraining this important reaction by combining the GRETINA array with the neutron detector LENDA coupled to the S800 spectrograph at the National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory. The ${}^{23}$Al($d,n$) reaction was used to populate the astrophysically important states in ${}^{24}$Si. This enables a measurement in complete kinematics for extracting all relevant inputs necessary to calculate the reaction rate. For the first time, a predicted close-lying doublet of a 2${}_2^{+}$ and (4${}_1^{+}$,0${}_2^{+}$) state in ${}^{24}$Si was disentangled, finally resolving conflicting results from two previous measurements. Moreover, it was possible to extract spectroscopic factors using GRETINA and LENDA simultaneously. This new technique may be used to constrain other important reaction rates for various astrophysical scenarios.

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• Advancement of Photospheric Radius Expansion and Clocked Type-I X-Ray Burst Models with the New ${}^{22}$Mg$(\alpha ,p{)}^{25}$Al Reaction Rate Determined at Gamow Energy
• Two-neutron knockout as a probe of the composition of states in ${}^{22}$Mg, ${}^{23}$Al, and ${}^{24}$Si
• Design of the High Rigidity Spectrometer at FRIB
• High-precision mass measurement of ${}^{24}$Si and a refined determination of the $rp$ process at the $A=22$ waiting point
• Single neutron transfer on 23Ne and its relevance forthepathway ofnucleosynthesis in astrophysical X-ray bursts
• Nuclear structure properties of Si and P isotopes with the microscopic effective interactions
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• The 2025 Evaluation of Experimental Thermonuclear Reaction Rates (ETR25)