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In stars that lie on the main sequence in the Hertzsprung Russel diagram, like our sun, hydrogen is fused to helium in a number of nuclear reaction chains and series, such as the proton-proton chain and the carbon-nitrogen-oxygen cycles. Precisely determined thermonuclear rates of these reactions lie at the foundation of the standard solar model. This review, the third decadal evaluation of the nuclear physics of hydrogen-burning stars, is motivated by the great advances made in recent years by solar neutrino observatories, putting experimental knowledge of the proton-proton chain neutrino fluxes in the few-percent precision range. The basis of the review is a one-week community meeting held in July 2022 in Berkeley, California, and many subsequent digital meetings and exchanges. Each of the relevant reactions of solar and quiescent stellar hydrogen burning is reviewed here, from both theoretical and experimental perspectives. Recommendations for the state of the art of the astrophysical S-factor and its uncertainty are formulated for each of them. Several other topics of paramount importance for the solar model are reviewed, as well: recent and future neutrino experiments, electron screening, radiative opacities, and current and upcoming experimental facilities. In addition to reaction-specific recommendations, also general recommendations are formed., Comment: 85 pages, 15 figures. To be submitted to Reviews of Modern Physics

The low-lying structure of $^{13}$Be has remained an enigma for decades. Despite numerous experimental and theoretical studies, large inconsistencies remain. Being both unbound, and one neutron away from $^{14}$Be, the heaviest bound beryllium nucleus, $^{13}$Be is difficult to study through simple reactions with weak radioactive ion beams or more complex reactions with stable-ion beams. Here, we present the results of a study using the $^{12}$Be(d,p)$^{13}$Be reaction in inverse kinematics using a 9.5~MeV per nucleon $^{12}$Be beam from the ISAC-II facility. The solid deuteron target of IRIS was used to achieve an increased areal thickness compared to conventional deuterated polyethylene targets. The Q-value spectrum below -4.4~MeV was analyzed using a Bayesian method with GEANT4 simulations. A three-point angular distribution with the same Q-value gate was fit with a mixture of $s$- and $p$-wave, $s$- and $d$-wave, or pure $p$-wave transfer. The Q-value spectrum was also compared with GEANT simulations obtained using the energies and widths of states reported in four previous works. It was found that our results are incompatible with works that revealed a wide $5/2^+$ resonance but shows better agreement with ones that reported a narrower width., Comment: 10 pages, 5 figures

We have measured the cross section of the $^{83}$Rb(p,$\gamma)^{84}$Sr radiative capture reaction in inverse kinematics using a radioactive beam of $^{83}$Rb at incident energies of 2.4 and $2.7 A$ MeV. Prior to the radioactive beam measurement, the $^{84}$Kr(p,$\gamma)^{85}$Rb radiative capture reaction was measured in inverse kinematics using a stable beam of $^{84}$Kr at an incident energy of $2.7 A$ MeV. The effective relative kinetic energies of these measurements lie within the relevant energy window for the $\gamma$ process in supernovae. The central values of the measured partial cross sections of both reactions were found to be $0.17-0.42$ times the predictions of statistical model calculations. Assuming the predicted cross section at other energies is reduced by the same factor leads to a slightly higher calculated abundance of the $p$ nucleus $^{84}$Sr, caused by the reduced rate of the $^{84}$Sr($\gamma$,p)$^{83}$Rb reaction derived from the present measurement., Comment: 11 pages, 11 figures. arXiv admin note: text overlap with arXiv:2109.06775

Globular clusters contain multiple stellar populations, with some previous generation of stars polluting the current stars with heavier elements. Understanding the history of globular clusters is helpful in understanding how galaxies merged and evolved and therefore constraining the site or sites of this historic pollution is a priority. The acceptable temperature and density conditions of these polluting sites depend on critical reaction rates. In this paper, three experimental studies helping to constrain astrophysically important reaction rates are briefly discussed., Comment: Submission to conference proceedings of INPC2022 in Cape Town

Measurements of the elastic scattering cross section of 3He and 4He are important in order to improve constraints on theoretical models of 4He(3He,g)7Be, a key reaction in Big Bang nucleosynthesis and solar neutrino production. The astrophysical S-factor for this reaction is a significant source of uncertainty in the standard solar-model prediction of the 7Be and 8B solar neutrino fluxes. The elastic scattering measurements reported in the literature do not extend to low energies and lack proper uncertainty quantification. A new measurement of the 4He(3He,3He)4He reaction has been made at center-of-mass energies Ec.m. = 0.38-3.13 MeV using the Scattering of Nuclei in Inverse Kinematics (SONIK) scattering chamber: a windowless, extended gas target surrounded by an array of 30 collimated silicon charged particle detectors situated at TRIUMF. This is the first elastic scattering measurement of 3He+4He made below 500 keV and it has greater angular range and better precision than previous measurements. The elastic scattering data were analyzed using both R-matrix and Halo Effective Field Theory (Halo EFT) frameworks, and values of the s-wave scattering length and effective range were extracted. The resulting improvement in knowledge of the s-wave effective-range function at low energies will reduce the overall uncertainty in S34 at solar energies., Comment: 21 pages, 16 figures

A possible mechanism to explain the origin of the light $p$-nuclei in the Galaxy is the nucleosynthesis in the proton-rich neutrino-driven wind ejecta of core-collapse supernovae via the $\nu p$-process. However this production scenario is very sensitive to the underlying supernova dynamics and the nuclear physics input. As far as the nuclear uncertainties are concerned, the breakout from the $pp$-chains via the $^7$Be($\alpha,\gamma$)$^{11}$C reaction has been identified as an important link which can influence the nuclear flow and therefore the efficiency of the $\nu p$-process. However its reaction rate is poorly known over the relevant temperature range, T = 1.5-3 GK. We report on the first direct measurement of two resonances of the $^7$Be($\alpha,\gamma$)$^{11}$C reaction with previously unknown strengths using an intense radioactive $^7$Be beam from the ISAC facility and the DRAGON recoil separator in inverse kinematics. We have decreased the $^7$Be($\alpha,\gamma$)$^{11}$C reaction rate uncertainty to $\sim$ 9.4-10.7% over the relevant temperature region., Comment: 15 pages, 12 figures. Accepted for publication in Phys. Rev. C

We have performed the first direct measurement of two resonances of the $^7$Be($\alpha,\gamma$)$^{11}$C reaction with unknown strengths using an intense radioactive $^7$Be beam and the DRAGON recoil separator. We report on the first measurement of the 1155 and 1110 keV resonance strengths of $1.73 \pm 0.25(stat.) \pm 0.40(syst.)$ eV and $125 ^{+27}_{-25}(stat.) \pm 15(syst.)$ meV, respectively. The present results have reduced the uncertainty in the $^7$Be($\alpha,\gamma$)$^{11}$C reaction rate to $\sim$ 9.4-10.7% over T = 1.5-3 GK, which is relevant for nucleosynthesis in the neutrino-driven outflows of core-collapse supernovae ($\nu p$-process). We find no effect of the new, constrained reaction rate on $\nu p$-process nucleosynthesis., Comment: 5 pages, 3 figures. Accepted for publication in Phys. Rev. Lett

We present new experimental measurements of resonance strengths in the astrophysical 23Al(p, {\gamma})24Si reaction, constraining the pathway of nucleosynthesis beyond 22Mg in X-ray burster scenarios. Specifically, we have performed the first measurement of the (d, p) reaction using a radioactive beam of 23Ne to explore levels in 24Ne, the mirror analog of 24Si. Four strong single-particle states were observed and corresponding neutron spectroscopic factors were extracted with a precision of {\sim}20{\%}. Using these spectroscopic factors, together with mirror state identifications, we have reduced uncertainties in the strength of the key {\ell} = 0 resonance at Er= 157 keV, in the astrophysical 23Al(p, {\gamma}) reaction, by a factor of 4. Our results show that the 22Mg(p, {\gamma})23Al(p, {\gamma}) pathway dominates over the competing 22Mg({\alpha}, p) reaction in all but the most energetic X-ray burster events (T>0.85GK), significantly affecting energy production and the preservation of hydrogen fuel., Comment: 5 pages, 3 figures

At temperatures below 0.1 GK the $^{19}$F$(p,\gamma)^{20}$Ne reaction is the only breakout path out of the CNO cycle. Experimental studies of this reaction are challenging from a technical perspective due to copious $\gamma$-ray background from the far stronger $^{19}$F$(p,\alpha)^{16}$O reaction channel. Here we present the first inverse kinematics study of the $^{19}$F$(p,\gamma)^{20}$Ne reaction, in which we measure the strength of the 323-keV resonance. We find a strength value of $\omega\gamma = 3.3^{+1.1}_{-0.9}$ meV, which is a factor of two larger than the most recent previous study. The discrepancy is likely the result of a direct to ground state transition which previous studies were not sensitive to. We also observe the transition to the first $2^{-}$ state, which has not been observed for this resonance in previous studies. A new thermonuclear reaction rate is calculated and compared with the literature., Comment: arXiv admin note: text overlap with arXiv:1910.01698

The efficiency of the slow neutron-capture process in massive stars is strongly influenced by neutron-capture reactions on light elements. At low metallicity, $^{16}$O is an important neutron absorber, but the effectiveness of $^{16}$O as a light-element neutron poison is modified by competition between subsequent $^{17}$O$(\alpha,n)^{20}$Ne and $^{17}$O$(\alpha,\gamma)^{21}$Ne reactions. The strengths of key $^{17}$O$(\alpha,\gamma)^{21}$Ne resonances within the Gamow window for core helium burning in massive stars are not well constrained by experiment. This work presents more precise measurements of resonances in the energy range $E_{c.m.} = 612 - 1319$ keV. We extract resonance strengths of $\omega\gamma_{638} = 4.85\pm0.79$ $\mu$eV, $\omega\gamma_{721} = 13.0^{+3.3}_{-2.4}$ $\mu$eV, $\omega\gamma_{814} = 7.72\pm0.55$ meV and $\omega\gamma_{1318} = 136\pm 13$ meV, for resonances at $E_{c.m.} =$ 638, 721, 814 and 1318 keV, respectively. We also report an upper limit for the 612 keV resonance of $\omega\gamma<140$ neV ($95\%$ c.l.), which effectively rules out any significant contribution from this resonance to the reaction rate. From this work, a new $^{17}$O$(\alpha,\gamma)^{21}$Ne thermonuclear reaction rate is calculated and compared to the literature. The effect of present uncertainties in the $^{17}$O$(\alpha,\gamma)^{21}$Ne reaction rate on weak s-process yields are then explored using post-processing calculations based on a rotating $20M_{\odot}$ low-metallicity massive star. The resulting $^{17}$O$(\alpha,\gamma)^{21}$Ne reaction rate is lower with respect to the pre-existing literature and found to enhance weak s-process yields in rotating massive star models., Comment: Accepted in Physical Review C

Motivated primarily by the large uncertainties in the thermonuclear rate of the $^{30}$P$(p,\gamma)^{31}$S reaction that limit our understanding of classical novae, we carried out lifetime measurements of $^{31}$S excited states using the Doppler Shift Lifetimes (DSL) facility at the TRIUMF Isotope Separator and Accelerator (ISAC-II) facility. The $^{31}$S excited states were populated by the $^{3}$He$(^{32}$S$,\alpha)^{31}$S reaction. The deexcitation $\gamma$ rays were detected by a clover-type high-purity germanium detector in coincidence with the $\alpha$ particles detected by a silicon detector telescope. We have applied modern Markov chain Monte Carlo-based Bayesian methods to perform lineshape analyses of Doppler-shift attenuation method $\gamma$-ray data for the first time. We have determined the lifetimes of the two lowest-lying $^{31}$S excited states. First experimental upper limits on the lifetimes of four higher-lying states have been obtained. The experimental results were compared to shell-model calculations using five universal $sd$-shell Hamiltonians. Evidence for $\gamma$ rays originating from the astrophysically important $J^\pi=3/2^+$, 260-keV $^{30}$P$(p,\gamma)^{31}$S resonance has also been observed, although strong constraints on the lifetime will require better statistics.

Monte Carlo simulations are widely used in nuclear physics to model experimental systems. In cases where there are significant unknown quantities, such as energies of states, an iterative process of simulating and fitting is often required to describe experimental data. We describe a Bayesian approach to fitting experimental data, designed for data from a $^{12}$Be(d,p) reaction measurement, using simulations made with GEANT4. Q-values from the $^{12}$C(d,p) reaction to well-known states in $^{13}$C are compared with simulations using BayesOpt. The energies of the states were not included in the simulation to reproduce the situation for $^{13}$Be where the states are poorly known. Both cases had low statistics and significant resolution broadening owing to large proton energy losses in the solid deuterium target. Excitation energies of the lowest three excited states in $^{13}$C were extracted to better than 90 keV, paving a way for extracting information on $^{13}$Be., Comment: 8 pages, 6 figures

A measurement of proton inelastic scattering of $^8$He at $8.25A$~MeV at TRIUMF shows a resonance at 3.54(6)~MeV with a width of 0.89(11)~MeV. The energy of the state is in good agreement with coupled cluster and no-core shell model with continuum calculations, with the latter successfully describing the measured resonance width as well. Its differential cross section analyzed with phenomenological collective excitation form factor and microscopic coupled reaction channels framework consistently reveals a large deformation parameter $\beta_2$ = 0.40(3), consistent with no-core shell model predictions of a large neutron deformation. This deformed double-closed shell at the neutron drip-line opens a new paradigm., Comment: 9 pages, 5 figures. Accepted for publication in Physics Letters B

We have performed the first direct measurement of the 83Rb(p,g) radiative capture reaction cross section in inverse kinematics using a radioactive beam of 83Rb at incident energies of 2.4 and 2.7 A MeV. The measured cross section at an effective relative kinetic energy of Ecm = 2.393 MeV, which lies within the relevant energy window for core collapse supernovae, is smaller than the prediction of statistical model calculations. This leads to the abundance of 84Sr produced in the astrophysical p process being higher than previously calculated. Moreover, the discrepancy of the present data with theoretical predictions indicates that further experimental investigation of p-process reactions involving unstable projectiles is clearly warranted., Comment: 6 pages, 4 figures, published in Physical Review Letters

Reactions on the proton-rich nuclides drive the nucleosynthesis in Core-Collapse Supernovae (CCSNe) and in X-ray bursts (XRBs). CCSNe eject the nucleosynthesis products to the interstellar medium and hence are a potential inventory of p-nuclei, whereas in XRBs nucleosynthesis powers the light curves. In both astrophysical sites the Ni-Cu cycle, which features a competition between $^{59}$Cu(p,$\alpha$)$^{56}$Ni and $^{59}$Cu(p,$\gamma$)$^{60}$Zn, could potentially halt the production of heavier elements. Here, we report the first direct measurement of $^{59}$Cu(p,$\alpha$)$^{56}$Ni using a re-accelerated $^{59}$Cu beam and cryogenic solid hydrogen target. Our results show that the reaction proceeds predominantly to the ground state of $^{56}$Ni and the experimental rate has been found to be lower than Hauser-Feshbach-based statistical predictions. New results hint that the $\nu p$-process could operate at higher temperatures than previously inferred and therefore remains a viable site for synthesizing the heavier elements.

Radiative capture reactions play a pivotal role for our understanding of the origin of the elements in the cosmos. Recoil separators provide an effective way to study these reactions, in inverse kinematics, and take advantage of the use of radioactive ion beams. However, a limiting factor in the study of radiative capture reactions in inverse kinematics is the momentum spread of the product nuclei, which can result in an angular spread larger than the geometric acceptance of the separator. The DRAGON facility at TRIUMF is a versatile recoil separator, designed to study radiative capture reactions relevant to astrophysics in the $\mathrm{A \sim 10-30}$ region. In this work we present the first attempt to study with DRAGON a reaction, $\mathrm{^6Li(\alpha,\gamma)^{10}B}$ , for which the recoil angular spread exceeds DRAGON's acceptance. Our result is in good agreement with the literature value, showing that DRAGON can measure resonance strengths of astrophysically important reactions even when not all the recoils enter the separator., Comment: 11 pages, 8 figures, Accepted for publication in Nucl. Instrum. Methods. Phys. Res. A

The abundances of sodium and oxygen are observed to be anti-correlated in all well-studied globular clusters. Asymptotic giant branch (AGB) stars undergoing hot bottom burning (HBB) are thought to be prime candidates for producing sodium-rich oxygen-poor material and expelling it into the cluster ISM. The 22Ne(p,gamma)23Na reaction has been shown to strongly influence the amount of 23Na produced during HBB. This reaction is also important for classical novae nucleosynthesis, with sensitivity studies showing that the abundances of several isotopes in the Ne-Al region are significantly altered when varying the reaction rate between available compilations. Here we present the first inverse kinematics measurements of key resonances strengths as well as the direct capture S-factor. Together, this study represents the largest centre of mass energy range (149-1222 keV) over which this reaction has been measured in a single experiment. Our results for low-energy resonances at Ecm=149, 181 and 248 keV are in good agreement with recent forward kinematics results; we also find a direct capture S-factor consistent with the literature value of 62 keV.b. However, in the case of the important reference resonance at Ecm = 458 keV we find a strength value of wg=0.44 +/- 0.02 eV, which is significantly lower than recent results. Using our new recommended rate we explore the impact of these results on both AGB star and classical novae nucleosynthesis. In the case of AGB stars we see very little abundance changes with respect to the rate included in the STARLIB-2013. However, we observe changes of up to a factor of 2 in isotopes produced in both the carbon-oxygen (CO) and oxygen-neon (ONe) classical novae models considered here. The 22Ne(p,gamma)23Na reaction rate is now sufficiently well constrained to not significantly contribute toward abundance uncertainties from classical novae nucleosynthesis models., Comment: 19 pages, 19 figures, 8 tables

During the slow neutron capture process in massive stars, reactions on light elements can both produce and absorb neutrons thereby influencing the final heavy element abundances. At low metallicities, the high neutron capture rate of 16-O can inhibit s-process nucleosynthesis unless the neutrons are recycled via the 17O(a,n)20Ne reaction. The efficiency of this neutron recycling is determined by competition between the 17O(a,n)20Ne and 17O(a,g)21Ne reactions. While some experimental data are available on the former reaction, no data exist for the radiative capture channel at the relevant astrophysical energies. The 17O(a,g)21Ne reaction has been studied directly using the DRAGON recoil separator at the TRIUMF Laboratory. The reaction cross section has been determined at energies between 0.6 and 1.6 MeV Ecm, reaching into the Gamow window for core helium burning for the first time. Resonance strengths for resonances at 0.63, 0.721, 0.81 and 1.122 MeV Ecm have been extracted. The experimentally based reaction rate calculated represents a lower limit, but suggests that significant s-process nucleosynthesis occurs in low metallicity massive stars., Comment: 7 pages, 5 figures

In this Letter we report on the first inverse kinematics measurement of key resonances in the ${}^{22}\text{Ne}(p,\gamma)^{23}\text{Na}$ reaction which forms part of the NeNa cycle, and is relevant for ${}^{23}$Na synthesis in asymptotic giant branch (AGB) stars. An anti-correlation in O and Na abundances is seen across all well-studied globular clusters (GC), however, reaction-rate uncertainties limit the precision as to which stellar evolution models can reproduce the observed isotopic abundance patterns. Given the importance of GC observations in testing stellar evolution models and their dependence on NeNa reaction rates, it is critical that the nuclear physics uncertainties on the origin of ${}^{23}$Na be addressed. We present results of direct strengths measurements of four key resonances in ${}^{22}\text{Ne}(p,\gamma)^{23}\text{Na}$ at E$_{{\text c.m.}}$ = 149 keV, 181 keV, 248 keV and 458 keV. The strength of the important E$_{{\text c.m.}}$ = 458 keV reference resonance has been determined independently of other resonance strengths for the first time with an associated strength of $\omega\gamma$ = 0.439(22) eV and with higher precision than previously reported. Our result deviates from the two most recently published results obtained from normal kinematics measurements performed by the LENA and LUNA collaborations but is in agreement with earlier measurements. The impact of our rate on the Na-pocket formation in AGB stars and its relation to the O-Na anti-correlation was assessed via network calculations. Further, the effect on isotopic abundances in CO and ONe novae ejecta with respect to pre-solar grains was investigated., Comment: 6 pages, 5 figures, preprint for PRL submission

The Electromagnetic Mass Analyser (EMMA) is a new vacuum-mode recoil mass spectrometer currently undergoing the final stages of commissioning at the ISAC-II facility of TRIUMF. EMMA employs a symmetric configuration of electrostatic and magnetic deflectors to separate the products of nuclear reactions from the beam, focus them in both energy and angle, and disperse them in a focal plane according to their mass/charge (m/q) ratios. The spectrometer was designed to accommodate the gamma-ray detector array TIGRESS around the target position in order to provide spectroscopic information from electromagnetic transitions. EMMA is intended to be used in the measurement of fusion evaporation, radiative capture, and transfer reactions for the study of nuclear structure and astrophysics. Its complement of focal plane detectors facilitates the identification of recoiling nuclei and subsequent recoil decay spectroscopy. Here we describe the facility and report on commissioning efforts., Comment: 5 figures

The astrophysical $S$-factor for the radiative proton capture reaction on $^7$Be ($S_{17}$) at low energies is affected by the $s$-wave scattering lengths. We report the measurement of elastic and inelastic scattering cross sections for the $^7$Be+p system in the center-of-mass energy range 0.474 - 2.740 MeV and center-of-mass angular range of 70$^\circ$- 150$^\circ$. A radioactive $^7$Be beam produced at Oak Ridge National Laboratory's (ORNL) Holifield Radioactive Ion Beam Facility was accelerated and bombarded a thin polypropylene (CH$_{2}$)$_\text n$ target. Scattered ions were detected in the segmented Silicon Detector Array. Using an $\textit{R}$-matrix analysis of ORNL and Louvain-la-Neuve cross section data, the $s$-wave scattering lengths for channel spins 1 and 2 were determined to be 17.34$^{+1.11}_{-1.33}$ and -3.18$^{+0.55}_{-0.50}$ fm, respectively. The uncertainty in the $s$-wave scattering lengths reported in this work is smaller by a factor of 5-8 compared to the previous measurement, which may reduce the overall uncertainty in $S_{17}$ at zero energy. The level structure of $^8$B is discussed based upon the results from this work. Evidence for the existence of 0$^+$ and 2$^+$ levels in $^8$B at 1.9 and 2.21 MeV, respectively, is observed.

The exotic Borromean nucleus $^{20}$Mg with $N$ = 8, located at the proton drip-line provides a unique testing ground for nuclear forces and the evolution of shell structure in the neutron-deficient region. We report on the first observation of proton unbound resonances together with bound states in $^{20}$Mg from the $^{20}$Mg($d$,$d'$) reaction performed at TRIUMF. Phenomenological shell-model calculations offer a reasonable description. However, our experimental results present a challenge for current first-principles nuclear structure approaches and point to the need for improved chiral forces and {\it ab initio} calculations. Furthermore, the differential cross section of the first excited state is compared with distorted-wave Born approximation calculations to deduce a neutron quadrupole deformation parameter of $\beta_n$=0.46$\pm$0.21. This provides the first indication of a possible weakening of the $N$ = 8 shell closure at the proton drip-line., Comment: 6 pages, 4 figures

Gamma-Ray Infrastructure For Fundamental Investigations of Nuclei, GRIFFIN, is a new high-efficiency $\gamma$-ray spectrometer designed for use in decay spectroscopy experiments with low-energy radioactive ion beams provided by TRIUMF's Isotope Separator and Accelerator (ISAC-I) facility. GRIFFIN is composed of sixteen Compton-suppressed large-volume clover-type high-purity germanium (HPGe) $\gamma$-ray detectors combined with a suite of ancillary detection systems and coupled to a custom digital data acquisition system. The infrastructure and detectors of the spectrometer as well as the performance characteristics and the analysis techniques applied to the experimental data are described.

According to sensitivity studies, the $^{38}\mathrm{K}\left( p, \gamma \right){}^{39}\mathrm{Ca}$ reaction has a significant influence on $\mathrm{Ar}$, $\mathrm{K}$, and $\mathrm{Ca}$ production in classical novae. In order to constrain the rate of this reaction, we have performed a direct measurement of the strengths of three candidate $\ell = 0$ resonances within the Gamow window, at $386 \pm 10~\mathrm{keV}$, $515 \pm 10~\mathrm{keV}$, and $689 \pm 10~\mathrm{keV}$. The experiment was performed in inverse kinematics using a beam of unstable $^{38}\mathrm{K}$ impinged on a windowless $\mathrm{H}_2$ target. The $^{39}\mathrm{Ca}$ recoils and prompt $\gamma$ rays from $^{38}\mathrm{K}\left( p, \gamma \right){}^{39}\mathrm{Ca}$ reactions were detected in coincidence using a recoil mass separator and a BGO array, respectively. For the $689$ keV resonance, we observed a clear recoil-$\gamma$ coincidence signal and extracted resonance strength and energy values of $120^{+50}_{-30}~\mathrm{(stat.)}^{+20}_{-60}~\mathrm{(sys.)}~\mathrm{meV}$ and $679^{+2}_{-1}~\mathrm{(stat.)} \pm 1~\mathrm{(sys.)}~\mathrm{keV}$, respectively. We also performed a singles analysis, extracting a resonance strength of $120 \pm 20~\mathrm{(stat.)} \pm 15~\mathrm{(sys.)}~\mathrm{meV}$, consistent with the coincidence result. For the $386$ keV and $515$ keV resonances, we extract $90\%$ confidence level upper limits of $2.54$ meV and $18.4$ meV, respectively. We have established a new recommended $^{38}\mathrm{K}(p, \gamma){}^{39}\mathrm{Ca}$ rate based on experimental information, which reduces overall uncertainties near the peak temperatures of nova burning by a factor of ${\sim} 250$. Using the rate obtained in this work in model calculations of the hottest oxygen-neon novae reduces overall uncertainties on $\mathrm{Ar}$, $\mathrm{K}$, and $\mathrm{Ca}$ synthesis to factors of $15$ or less in all cases., Comment: 11 pages, 6 figures, accepted for publication in Phys. Rev. C

How does nature hold together protons and neutrons to form the wide variety of complex nuclei in the universe? Describing many-nucleon systems from the fundamental theory of quantum chromodynamics has been the greatest challenge in answering this question. The chiral effective field theory description of the nuclear force now makes this possible but requires certain parameters that are not uniquely determined. Defining the nuclear force needs identification of observables sensitive to the different parametrizations. From a measurement of proton elastic scattering on $^{10}$C at TRIUMF and ab initio nuclear reaction calculations we show that the shape and magnitude of the measured differential cross section is strongly sensitive to the nuclear force prescription., Comment: 7 pages, 6 figures

Several lifetimes in 23Mg have been determined for the first time using the Doppler-shift attenuation method. A Monte Carlo simulation code has been written to model the gamma-ray line shape. An upper limit of 12 fs at the 95% C.L. has been obtained for the astrophysically important 7787 keV state.

The level structure of the very neutron rich and unbound $^9$He nucleus has been the subject of significant experimental and theoretical study. Many recent works have claimed that the two lowest energy $^9$He states exist with spins $J^\pi=1/2^+$ and $J^\pi=1/2^-$ and widths on the order of hundreds of keV. These findings cannot be reconciled with our contemporary understanding of nuclear structure. The present work is the first high-resolution study with low statistical uncertainty of the relevant excitation energy range in the $^8$He$+n$ system, performed via a search for the T=5/2 isobaric analog states in $^9$Li populated through $^8$He+p elastic scattering. The present data show no indication of any narrow structures. Instead, we find evidence for a broad $J^{\pi}=1/2^+$ state in $^9$He located approximately 3 MeV above the neutron decay threshold.

The nucleosynthesis of elements beyond iron is dominated by neutron captures in the s and r processes. However, 32 stable, proton-rich isotopes cannot be formed during those processes, because they are shielded from the s-process flow and r-process beta-decay chains. These nuclei are attributed to the p and rp process. For all those processes, current research in nuclear astrophysics addresses the need for more precise reaction data involving radioactive isotopes. Depending on the particular reaction, direct or inverse kinematics, forward or time-reversed direction are investigated to determine or at least to constrain the desired reaction cross sections. The Facility for Antiproton and Ion Research (FAIR) will offer unique, unprecedented opportunities to investigate many of the important reactions. The high yield of radioactive isotopes, even far away from the valley of stability, allows the investigation of isotopes involved in processes as exotic as the r or rp processes., Comment: Invited Talk given at the Conference Nuclear Physice in Astrophysics VI (NPA6), Lisbon, Portugal, May 19-24 2013. To appear in the NPA6 Proceedings in Journal of Physics: Conference Series (JPCS)

The 33S(p,\gamma)34Cl reaction is important for constraining predictions of certain isotopic abundances in oxygen-neon novae. Models currently predict as much as 150 times the solar abundance of 33S in oxygen-neon nova ejecta. This overproduction factor may, however, vary by orders of magnitude due to uncertainties in the 33S(p,\gamma)34Cl reaction rate at nova peak temperatures. Depending on this rate, 33S could potentially be used as a diagnostic tool for classifying certain types of presolar grains. Better knowledge of the 33S(p,\gamma)34Cl rate would also aid in interpreting nova observations over the S-Ca mass region and contribute to the firm establishment of the maximum endpoint of nova nucleosynthesis. Additionally, the total S elemental abundance which is affected by this reaction has been proposed as a thermometer to study the peak temperatures of novae. Previously, the 33S(p,\gamma)34Cl reaction rate had only been studied directly down to resonance energies of 432 keV. However, for nova peak temperatures of 0.2-0.4 GK there are 7 known states in 34Cl both below the 432 keV resonance and within the Gamow window that could play a dominant role. Direct measurements of the resonance strengths of these states were performed using the DRAGON recoil separator at TRIUMF. Additionally two new states within this energy region are reported. Several hydrodynamic simulations have been performed, using all available experimental information for the 33S(p,\gamma)34Cl rate, to explore the impact of the remaining uncertainty in this rate on nucleosynthesis in nova explosions. These calculations give a range of ~ 20-150 for the expected 33S overproduction factor, and a range of ~ 100-450 for the 32S/33S ratio expected in ONe novae., Comment: 12 pages, 8 figures, Accepted for publication in Physical Review C

The 18Ne(a,p)21Na reaction provides one of the main HCNO-breakout routes into the rp-process in X-ray bursts. The 18Ne(a,p_0)21Na reaction cross section has been determined for the first time in the Gamow energy region for peak temperatures T=2GK by measuring its time-reversal reaction 21Na(p,a)18Ne in inverse kinematics. The astrophysical rate for ground-state to ground-state transitions was found to be a factor of 2 lower than Hauser-Feshbach theoretical predictions. Our reduced rate will affect the physical conditions under which breakout from the HCNO cycles occurs via the 18Ne(a,p)21Na reaction., Comment: 5 pages, 3 figures, accepted for publication on Physical Review Letters

New measurements of the interaction cross sections of 22,23O at 900A MeV performed at the GSI, Darmstadt are reported that address the unsolved puzzle of the large cross section previously observed for 23O. The matter radii for these oxygen isotopes extracted through a Glauber model analysis are in good agreement with the new predictions of the ab initio coupled-cluster theory reported here. They are consistent with a 22O+neutron description of 23O as well., Comment: 4 pages, 3 figures

We summarize and critically evaluate the available data on nuclear fusion cross sections important to energy generation in the Sun and other hydrogen-burning stars and to solar neutrino production. Recommended values and uncertainties are provided for key cross sections, and a recommended spectrum is given for 8B solar neutrinos. We also discuss opportunities for further increasing the precision of key rates, including new facilities, new experimental techniques, and improvements in theory. This review, which summarizes the conclusions of a workshop held at the Institute for Nuclear Theory, Seattle, in January 2009, is intended as a 10-year update and supplement to Reviews of Modern Physics 70 (1998) 1265., Comment: 54 pages, 20 figures, version to be published in Reviews of Modern Physics; various typos corrected and several updates made

Gamow-Teller transitions from 24Mg to 24Na were studied via the (t,3He) reaction at 115 AMeV using a secondary triton beam produced via fast fragmentation of 150 AMeV 16O ions. Compared to previous (t,3He) experiments at this energy that employed a primary alpha beam, the secondary beam intensity is improved by about a factor of five. Despite the large emittance of the secondary beam, an excitation-energy resolution of ~200 keV is achieved. A good correspondence is found between the extracted Gamow-Teller strength distribution and those available from other charge-exchange probes. Theoretical calculations using the newly developed USDA and USDB sd-shell model interactions reproduce the data well., Comment: 10 pages, 3 figures

A recently published letter reports a measurement of alpha decay from states in 19Ne at excitation energies below 4.5 MeV. The measured alpha decay branching ratios B_alpha are used to calculate the astrophysical rate of the 15O(alpha,gamma)19Ne reaction and to draw conclusions regarding the transition between steady state and unstable nuclear burning on accreting neutron stars. Here I show that the calculated astrophysical reaction rate is based on an unreliable value of B_alpha for the 4.03 MeV state and point out a serious internal inconsistency in the letter's treatment of low statistics alpha decay measurements., Comment: Submitted to Physical Review Letters; comments and suggestions are welcome

The p(\nuc{11}{Li},\nuc{9}{Li})t reaction has been studied for the first time at an incident energy of 3$A$ MeV delivered by the new ISAC-2 facility at TRIUMF. An active target detector MAYA, build at GANIL, was used for the measurement. The differential cross sectionshave been determined for transitions to the \nuc{9}{Li} ground andthe first excited states in a wide range of scattering angles. Multistep transfer calculations using different \nuc{11}{Li} model wave functions, shows that wave functions with strong correlations between the halo neutrons are the most successful in reproducing the observation., Comment: 6 pages, 3 figures, submitted to Physical Review Letters

The 15O(alpha,gamma)19Ne reaction plays a role in the ignition of Type I x-ray bursts on accreting neutron stars. The lifetimes of states in 19Ne above the 15O + alpha threshold of 3.53 MeV are important inputs to calculations of the astrophysical reaction rate. These levels in 19Ne were populated in the 3He(20Ne,alpha)19Ne reaction at a 20Ne beam energy of 34 MeV. The lifetimes of six states above the threshold were measured with the Doppler shift attenuation method (DSAM). The present measurements agree with previous determinations of the lifetimes of these states and in some cases are considerably more precise.

This paper suffers from conceptual difficulties and unjustified approximations that render its conclusions dubious., Comment: Submitted to Physical Review C

The Doppler-shift attenuation method was applied to measure the lifetime of the 4.03 MeV state in 19Ne. Utilizing a 3He-implanted Au foil as a target, the state was populated using the 20Ne(3He,alpha)19Ne reaction in inverse kinematics at a 20Ne beam energy of 34 MeV. De-excitation gamma rays were detected in coincidence with alpha particles. At the 1 sigma level, the lifetime was determined to be 11 +4, -3 fs and at the 95.45% confidence level the lifetime is 11 +8, -7 fs., Comment: 6 pages, submitted to Phys. Rev. C

Excitation functions for total reaction cross sections, $\sigma_R$, were measured for the light, mainly proton-rich nuclei $^6$Li, $^7$Be, $^{10}$B, $^{9,10,11}$C, $^{12}$N, $^{13,15}$O, and $^{17}$Ne incident on a Si telescope at energies between 15 and 53 MeV/nucleon. The telescope served as target, energy degrader and detector. Proton-removal cross sections, $\sigma_{2p}$ for $^{17}$Ne and $\sigma_p$ for most of the other projectiles, were also measured. The strong absorption model reproduces the $A$-dependence of $\sigma_R$, but not the detailed structure. Glauber multiple scattering theory and the JLM folding model provided improved descriptions of the measured $\sigma_R$ values. $rms$ radii, extracted from the measured $\sigma_R$ using the optical limit of Glauber theory, are in good agreement with those obtained from high energy data. One-proton removal reactions are described using an extended Glauber model, incorporating second order noneikonal corrections, realistic single particle densities, and spectroscopic factors from shell model calculations., Comment: 16 pages, 6 figures