Open AccessNuclear astrophysics and resonant reactions: Exploring the threshold region with the Trojan Horse Method
Author(s) -
M. La Cognata,
S. Cherubini,
M. Gulino,
L. Lamia,
R. G. Pizzone,
С. Романо,
C. Spitaleri,
А. Туміно
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
international journal of modern physics. conference series
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2010-1945
DOI - 10.1142/s2010194519600103
Subject(s) - nuclear astrophysics , trojan horse , physics , nucleosynthesis , nuclear reaction , astrophysics , stars , asymptotic giant branch , coulomb barrier , electron , nuclear physics , coulomb , computer science , operating system
Resonant reactions play an important role in astrophysics as they might significantly enhance the cross section with respect to the direct reaction contribution and alter the nucleosynthetic flow. Moreover, resonances bear information about states in the intermediate compound nucleus formed in the reaction. However, nuclear reactions in stars take place at energies well below [Formula: see text] MeV and the Coulomb barrier, exponentially suppressing the cross section, and the electron screening effect, due to the shielding of nuclear charges by atomic electrons, make it very difficult to provide accurate input data for astrophysics. Therefore, indirect methods have been introduced; in particular, we will focus on the Trojan Horse Method. We will briefly discuss the theory behind the method, to make clear its domain of applicability, the advantages and the drawbacks, and two recent cases will be shortly reviewed: the [Formula: see text] reaction, which is an important fluorine destruction channel in the proton-rich outer layers of asymptotic giant branch (AGB) stars, and the [Formula: see text] reactions, which play a critical role in astrophysics to understand stellar burning scenarios in carbon-rich environments.