High-energy Coulomb breakup of proton-dripline nuclei as a tool to study radiative-capture reactions of astrophysical interest

Abstract

High‐energy Coulomb dissociation (CD) can be used to investigate the time‐reversed process, radiative capture, for unstable nuclei where the direct capture reaction is difficult or impossible to perform. At GSI, we have run a series of CD measurements involving the proton‐halo nucleus 8B which plays a major role in solar‐neutrino physics. We could show that for this case CD and direct proton capture yield the same result. Theoretical guidance is necessary, however, to make sure that contributions of different electro‐magnetic multipolarities and nuclear dissociation processes are well under control. Recently, we have complemented the LAND/ALADIN experimental apparatus at GSI with new Si microstrip detectors and proton‐drift‐chambers to continue similar studies with radioactive beams from the fragment separator FRS at GSI. The first case of astrophysical interest to be studied will be the CD of 27P. Another case will be the 2‐proton breakup of 17Ne to investigate radiative two‐proton capture on 15O, a proc...