Resonance strength measurements and thermonuclear reaction rates for [formula omitted] (II)

Abstract

The strengths of resonances in 25 Mg(p, γ) 26 Al have been measured in the energy range E p = 600–1730 keV. Several serious disagreements with previously published results are reported. Thermonuclear reaction rates are calculated for the temperature range (0.5–10) × 10 9 K for production of 26Al in its ground state and in its isomeric first excited state. Total thermonuclear reaction rates are compared with those calculated from statistical-model cross sections and, even in energy ranges where the experimental cross section derives from widely spaced resonances, the agreement is very good. The establishment of a thermal population of 26Al excited states in a stellar environment is discussed, with both electromagnetic transitions and proton inelastic and superelastic scattering as the thermalising processes.