The 63Cu(α, p) 66Zn cross section and the corresponding thermonuclear reaction rate

Abstract

Differential cross sections and excitation functions for the reaction 63Cu(α, p) 66Zn have been measured over the energy range E α = 6–10 MeV. Results of statistical model calculations are compared to the excitation functions for individual proton groups and are found to give good representations to within about a factor of two. The data and the calculated cross sections are used to determine the thermonuclear reaction rates for temperatures of astrophysical interest.