Synthesis of elements in compact stars in pycnonuclear reactions with Carbon isotopes: Quasibound states versus states of zero-points vibrations

Abstract

(1) Purpose: Conditions of formation of compound nuclear system needed for synthesis of heavy nuclei in pycnonuclear reactions in compact stars are studied on a quantum mechanical basis. (2) Methods: Method of multiple internal reflections is generalized for pycnoreactions in compact stars with new calculations of quasibound spectra and spectra of zero-point vibrations. (3) Results: Peculiarities of the method are analyzed for reaction with isotopes of Carbon. The developed method takes into account continuity and conservation of quantum flux (describing pycnonuclear reaction) inside the full spacial region of reaction including nuclear region. This gives appearance of new states (called as quasibound states), in which compound nuclear systems of Magnesium are formed with the largest probability. These states have not been studied yet in synthesis of elements in stars. Energy spectra of zero-point vibrations and spectra of quasibound states are estimated with high precision for reactions with isotopes of Carbon. At the first time influence of plasma screening on quasibound states and states of zero-point vibrations in pycnonuclear reactions has been studied. (4) Conclusion: The probability of formation of compound nuclear system in quasibound states in pycnonuclear reaction is essentially larger than the probability of formation of this system in states of zero-point vibrations studied by Zel'dovich and followers. So, synthesis of Magnesium from isotopes of Carbon is more probable through the quasibound states than through the states of zero-point vibrations in compact stars. Energy spectra of zero-point vibrations are changed essentially after taking plasma screening into account. Analysis shows that from all studied isotopes of Magnesium only \isotope[24]{Mg} is stable after synthesis at energy of relative motion of 4.881~MeV of incident nuclei \isotope[12]{C}.

arXiv comment15 pages, 4 captured figures, 4 captured tables. arXiv admin note: text overlap with arXiv:2205.13895

References in corpus (9)

• Nuclear fusion in dense matter: Reaction rate and carbon burning
• Fusion reactions in multicomponent dense matter
• Large collection of astrophysical S-factors and its compact representation
• Quantum design using a multiple internal reflections method in a study of fusion processes in the capture of alpha-particles by nuclei
• Strong plasma screening in thermonuclear reactions: Electron drop model
• New quasibound states of the compound nucleus in $\alpha$-particle capture by the nucleus
• The method of multiple internal reflections in a description of tunneling evolution of nonrelativistic particles and photons
• Method of multiple internal reflections in description of tunneling evolution through barriers
• Quantum design in study of pycnonuclear reactions in compact stars and new quasibound states