Effect of quantum uncertainty on the rate of nuclear reactions in the Sun

Abstract

Galitskii and Yakimets [ZhETF 51 (1966) 957] showed that the particle distribution function over momenta acquires a power-like tail even under conditions of thermodynamic equilibrium. The question whether this tail leads to acceleration of nuclear reaction rates is addressed by considering nuclear reactions in the Sun. The rates of the pp reaction as well as all decay and electron capture reactions are unchanged, while other reactions experience significant acceleration. These new rates meet important constraints such as the solar luminosity and the sound speed. Most interesting is that the 7Be neutrino flux is decreased by the amount necessary to agree well with experimental data.