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The detection of the neutrinos produced in the p−p chain and in the CNO cycle can be used to test the Standard Solar Model. The 3He(α,γ)7Be reaction is the first reaction of the 2nd and 3rd branch of the p−p chain, therefore, the uncertainty of its cross section sensitively influences the prediction of the 7Be and 8B neutrino fluxes. Despite its importance and the large number of experimental and theoretical works devoted to this reaction, the knowledge on the reaction cross section at energies characterizing the core of the Sun (15 keV - 30 keV) is limited and further experimental efforts are needed to reach the desired (≈ 3%) accuracy. The precise knowledge on the external capture contribution to the 3He(α,γ)7Be reaction cross section is crucial for the theoretical description of the reaction mechanism. In the present work the indirect measurement of this external capture contribution using the Asymptotic Normalization Coefficient (ANC) technique is reported. To extract the ANC, the angular distributions of deuterons emitted in the 6Li(3He,d)7Be α-transfer reaction were measured with high precision at EH3e = 3.0 MeV and EH3e = 5.0 MeV. The ANCs were then extracted from comparison of DWBA calculations to the measured data and the zero energy astrophysical S-factor for 3He(α,γ)7Be reaction was found to be 0.534 ± 0.025 keVb.

The 22Ne(α,γ)26Mg and 22Ne(α,n)25Mg reactions play an important role in astrophysics because they have significant influence on the neutron flux during the weak branch of the s-process. We constrain the astrophysical rates for these reactions by measuring partial α-widths of resonances in 26Mg located in the Gamow window for the Ne22+α capture. These resonances were populated using 22Ne(6Li,d)26Mg and 22Ne(7Li,t)26Mg reactions at energies near the Coulomb barrier. At these low energies α-transfer reactions favor population of low spin states and the extracted partial α-widths for the observed resonances exhibit only minor dependence on the model parameters. The astrophysical rates for both the 22Ne(α,γ)26Mg and the 22Ne(α,n)25Mg reactions are shown to be significantly different than the previously suggested values. Keywords: s-Process, Reaction rate, 22Ne(α,γ)26Mg, 22Ne(α,n)25Mg, Sub-Coulomb α-transfer reaction

Recent improvements in stellar models for intermediate-mass stars and massive stars (MSs) are recalled, together with their expectations for the synthesis of radioactive nuclei of lifetimes τ ≲ 25 Myr, in order to re-examine the origins of now extinct radioactivities that were alive in the solar nebula. The Galactic inheritance broadly explains most of them, especially if r-process nuclei are produced by neutron star merging, according to recent models. Instead, 26Al, 41Ca, 135Cs, and possibly 60Fe require nucleosynthetic events close to the solar formation. We outline the persisting difficulties to account for these nuclei by intermediate-mass stars (2 ≲ M/M⊙ ≲ 7–8). Models of their final stages now predict the ubiquitous formation of a 13C reservoir as a neutron capture source; hence, even in the presence of 26Al production from deep mixing or hot bottom burning, the ratio 26Al/107Pd remains incompatible with measured data, with a large excess in 107Pd. This is shown for two recent approaches to deep mixing. Even a late contamination by an MS encounters problems. In fact, the inhomogeneous addition of supernova debris predicts nonmeasured excesses on stable isotopes. Revisions invoking specific low-mass supernovae and/or the sequential contamination of the presolar molecular cloud might be affected by similar problems, although our conclusions here are weakened by our schematic approach to the addition of SN ejecta. The limited parameter space that remains to be explored for solving this puzzle is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Low-mass asymptotic giant branch stars are among the most important polluters of the interstellar medium. In their interiors, the main component (A ≳ 90) of the slow neutron capture process (the s-process) is synthesized, the most important neutron source being the 13C(α,n)16O reaction. In this paper, we review its current experimental status, discussing possible future synergies between some experiments currently focused on the determination of its rate. Moreover, in order to determine the level of precision needed to fully characterize this reaction, we present a theoretical sensitivity study, carried out with the FUNS evolutionary stellar code and the NEWTON post-process code. We modify the rate up to a factor of 2 with respect to a reference case. We find that variations of the 13C(α,n)16O rate do not appreciably affect s-process distributions for masses above 3 M⊙ at any metallicity. Apart from a few isotopes, in fact, the differences are always below 5%. The situation is completely different if some 13C burns in a convective environment: this occurs in FUNS models with M < 3 M⊙ at solar-like metallicities. In this case, a change of the 13C(α,n)16O reaction rate leads to nonnegligible variations of the element surface distribution (10% on average), with larger peaks for some elements (such as rubidium) and neutron-rich isotopes (such as 86Kr and 96Zr). Larger variations are found in low-mass, low-metallicity models if protons are mixed and burned at very high temperatures. In this case, the surface abundances of the heavier elements may vary by more than a factor of 50. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The reaction is considered to be the main neutron source responsible for the production of heavy nuclides (from to ) through slow n-capture nucleosynthesis (s-process) at low temperatures during the asymptotic giant branch phase of low-mass stars (, or LMSs). In recent years, several direct and indirect measurements have been carried out to determine the cross section at the energies of astrophysical interest (around ). However, they yield inconsistent results that cause a highly uncertain reaction rate and affect the neutron release in LMSs. In this work we have combined two indirect approaches, the asymptotic normalization coefficient and the Trojan horse method, to unambiguously determine the absolute value of the astrophysical factor. With these, we have determined a very accurate reaction rate to be introduced into astrophysical models of s-process nucleosynthesis in LMSs. Calculations using this recommended rate have shown limited variations in the production of those neutron-rich nuclei (with ) that receive contribution only by slow neutron captures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Slow neutron captures are responsible for the production of about 50% of elements heavier than iron, mainly occurring during the asymptotic giant branch phase of low-mass stars (1 ≲ M/M⊙ ≲ 3), where the main neutron source is the 13C(α, n)16O reaction. This last reaction is activated from locally produced 13C, formed by partial mixing of hydrogen into the He-rich layers. We present here the first attempt to describe a physical mechanism for the formation of the 13C reservoir, studying the mass circulation induced by magnetic buoyancy without adding new free parameters to those already involved in stellar modeling. Our approach represents the application to the stellar layers relevant for s-processing of recent exact analytical 2D and 3D models for magneto-hydrodynamic processes at the base of convective envelopes in evolved stars in order to promote downflows of envelope material for mass conservation during the occurrence of a dredge-up phenomenon. We find that the proton penetration is characterized by small concentrations, but is extended over a large fractional mass of the He-layers, thus producing 13C reservoirs of several 10−3M⊙. The ensuing 13C-enriched zone has an almost flat profile, while only a limited production of 14N occurs. In order to verify the effects of our new findings we show how the abundances of the main s-component nuclei can be accounted for in solar proportions and how our large 13C-reservoir allows us to solve a few so far unexplained features in the abundance distribution of post-AGB objects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fluorine nucleosynthesis represents one of the most intriguing open questions in nuclear astrophysics. It has triggered new measurements which may modify the presently accepted paradigm of fluorine production and establish fluorine as an accurate probe of the inner layers of asymptotic giant branch (AGB) stars. Both direct and indirect measurements have attempted to improve the recommended extrapolation to astrophysical energies, showing no resonances. In this work, we will demonstrate that the interplay between direct and indirect techniques represents the most suitable approach to attain the required accuracy for the astrophysical factor at low energies, keV, which is of interest for fluorine nucleosynthesis in AGB stars. We will use the recently measured direct astrophysical factor in the energy interval to renormalize the existing Trojan Horse Method (THM) data spanning the astrophysical energies, accounting for all identified sources of uncertainty. This has a twofold impact on nuclear astrophysics. It shows the robustness of the THM approach even in the case of direct data of questionable quality, as normalization is extended over a broad range, minimizing systematic effects. Moreover, it allows us to obtain more accurate resonance data at astrophysical energies, thanks to the improved direct data. Finally, the present work strongly calls for more accurate direct data at low energies, so that we can obtain a better fitting of the direct reaction mechanism contributing to the astrophysical factor. Indeed, this work points out that the major source of uncertainty affecting the low-energy S(E) factor is the estimate of the non-resonant contribution, as the dominant role of the 113 keV resonance is now well established. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We study the effects of neutron captures in AGB stars on “Fe-group” elements, with an emphasis on Cr, Fe, and Ni. These elements show anomalies in 54Cr, 58Fe, and 64Ni in solar system materials, which are commonly attributed to supernovae (SNe). However, as large fractions of the interstellar medium (ISM) were reprocessed in AGB stars, these elements were reprocessed, too. We calculate the effects of such reprocessing on Cr, Fe, and Ni through 1.5 and 3 AGB models, adopting solar and 1/3 solar metallicities. All cases produce excesses of 54Cr, 58Fe, and 64Ni, while the other isotopes are little altered; hence, the observations may be explained by AGB processing. The results are robust and not dependent on the detailed initial isotopic composition. Consequences for other “Fe group” elements are then explored. They include 50Ti excesses and some production of Ti. In many circumstellar condensates, Ti quantitatively reflects these effects of AGB neutron captures. Scatter in the data results from small variations (granularity) in the isotopic composition of the local ISM. For Si, the main effects are instead due to variations in the local ISM from different SN sources. The problem of Ca is discussed, particularly with regard to 48Ca. The measured data are usually represented assuming terrestrial values for 42Ca/44Ca. Materials processed in AGB stars or sources with variable initial 42Ca/44Ca ratios can give apparent 48Ca excesses/deficiencies, attributed to SNe. The broader issue of galactic chemical evolution is also discussed in view of the isotopic granularity in the ISM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The (13)C(α,n)(16)O reaction is the neutron source for the main component of the s-process, responsible for the production of most nuclei in the mass range 90