19F(α,n)22Na, 22Ne(p,n)22Na, and the Role of their Inverses in the Destruction of 22Na

The inverses of the 19F(α,n)22Na and 22Ne(p,n)22Na reactions may be important destruction mechanisms for 22Na in neutron-rich, high-temperature or explosive nucleosynthesis. I have measured the cross sections for the 19F(α,n)22Na and 22Ne(p,n)22Na reactions from threshold to 3.1 and 5.4 MeV, respectively. The absolute efficiency of the 4π neutron detector was determined by Monte Carlo calculations and calibrated using two standard sources and two nuclear reactions. Cross sections for the inverse reactions have been calculated using the principle of detailed balance, and reaction rates for both the reactions and their inverses determined for temperatures between 0.01 and 10 GK for 19F(α,n)22Na and between 0.1 and 10 GK for 22Ne(p,n)22Na.