Collective admixtures in the odd-parity states of O 16

Abstract

The cross section for the reaction 12C(α, γ)16O has been measured for a range of c.m. energies extending from 1.41 MeV to 2.94 MeV, by using 12C targets of high isotopic purity, large NaI(T1) crystals, and the time-of-flight technique for the suppression of prompt neutron background and time-independent background. Gamma-ray angular distributions were measured at c.m. energies of 2.18, 2.42, 2.56 and 2.83 MeV. By means of theoretical fits, which include the coherent effects of the 1− states of 16O at 7.12 MeV, 9.60 MeV, and those at higher energies, the electric-dipole portion of the cross section at astrophysically relevant energies has been determined. A three-level R-matrix parametrization of the data yields an S-factor at Ec.m. = 0.3 MeV, S(0.3 MeV) = 0.14+0.14−0.12 MeV · b. A “hybrid” R-matrix optical-m parameterization yields S(0.3 MeV) = 0.08+0.05−0.04 MeV · b. This S-factor is of crucial importance in determining the abundances of 12C and 16O at the end of helium burning in stars.