Properties of states in \textsuperscript{19}Ne important for the \textsuperscript{18}F$(p,\hat{I}\pm )$\textsuperscript{15}O reaction rate

Abstract

Observation of the 511-keV positron-annihilation line would be a powerful probe of classical novae, with the primary source of positrons likely from the $β^+$ decay of \textsuperscript{18}F. We have determined the properties of important resonances in ${}^{19}$Ne which govern the \textsuperscript{18}F($p,\hat{I}\pm$)\textsuperscript{15}O reaction rate and the production of \textsuperscript{18}F in novae. Measured $\hat{I}\pm$ and proton angular distributions from states populated in the \textsuperscript{19}F(\textsuperscript{3}He,$t$)\textsuperscript{19}Ne reaction identified six near-threshold proton $s$-wave \textsuperscript{18}F$+p$ ($L_p=0$) states, and the asymptotic normalization of these states was studied using the symmetry-adapted no-core shell model. We have improved our understanding of states contributing to the \textsuperscript{18}F($p,\hat{I}\pm$)\textsuperscript{15}O reaction rate and show that earlier studies significantly underestimated the uncertainties.