The4He(12C, ?)16O reaction at stellar energies

Abstract

The capture reaction4He(12C, γ)16O (Ec.m.= 1.34–3.38 MeV) as well as the elastic scattering process4He(12C,12C)4He (Ec.m.=1.44–3.38 MeV) have been investigated with the use of an intense12C beam and a windowless and4He recirculating gas target system. The measurements involved two large NaI(T1) crystals in close geometry to an extended gas target, whereby angle-integrated γ-ray yields were obtained. A large area plastic detector was used for the suppression of time-independent background. A search for cascade γ-ray transitions was carried out by coincidence techniques. The measurement of absolute cross sections is also reported. Theoretical fits of the excitation function for the groundstate γ-ray transition requireE1 as well asE2 capture amplitudes, which are of equal importance at stellar energies. This result increases significantly the stellar burning rate of4He(12C, γ)16O and leads to16O as the dominant product at the end of helium burning in massive stars. The observed capture yield to the 6.92 MeV state is dominated by the direct capture mechanism and plays a small role at stellar energies.