Direct measurement of the ${}^{16}$O($\ensuremath{\alpha}$,$\ensuremath{\gamma}$)${}^{20}$Ne reaction at ${E}_{\mathrm{c}.\mathrm{m}.}=2.43$ MeV and 1.69 MeV

Direct measurement of the $^{16}$ O( $α$ , $γ$ ) $^{20}$ Ne reaction at $E_{c . m .} = 2.43$ MeV and 1.69 MeV

U. Hager, L. Buchmann, B. Davids, J. Fallis, U. Greife, D. A. Hutcheon, D. Irvine, D. Ottewell, A. Rojas, S. Reeve, and C. Ruiz

Phys. Rev. C 86, 055802 – Published 5 November 2012

Abstract

In stars, $^{16}$ O represents the endpoint of the helium burning sequence due to the low rate of $^{16}$ O( $α$ , $γ$ ) $^{20}$ Ne. We present a new direct measurement of the total cross section of $^{16}$ O( $α$ , $γ$ ) $^{20}$ Ne at $E_{c . m .} = 1.69 MeV$ employing the DRAGON recoil separator. In addition, the branching ratios and strength of the $E_{c . m .} = 2.426 MeV$ $3^{-}$ resonance were determined.