Multichannel R-matrix Analysis of CNO Cycle Reactions

The CNO cycle is the main process for hydrogen burning in stars somewhat larger than the Sun. The reaction cross sections at Gamow energies are typically in the femto to pico‐barn range and are consequently very difficult to measure experimentally. The CNO reaction rates are based on extrapolations of experimental data from higher energies. We have developed a multi‐channel R‐matrix code to provide a new tool for fitting experimental data and making extrapolations to lower energies in all reaction and scattering channels. This approach does not only allow for a more reliable extrapolation, it also provides insight and guidance for the next generation of low energy experiments.