Direct measurement of the Na 23 (α,p) Mg 26 reaction cross section at energies relevant for the production of galactic Al 26

S. Almaraz-Calderon, Argonne National Laboratory
P. F. Bertone, Argonne National Laboratory
M. Alcorta, Argonne National Laboratory
M. Albers, Argonne National Laboratory
C. M. Deibel, Louisiana State University
C. R. Hoffman, Argonne National Laboratory
C. L. Jiang, Argonne National Laboratory
S. T. Marley, Argonne National Laboratory
K. E. Rehm, Argonne National Laboratory
C. Ugalde, Argonne National Laboratory

Abstract

The 1809-keV γ ray from the decay of Alg26 is an important target for γ-ray astronomy. In the convective C/Ne burning shell of massive presupernova stars, the Na23(α,p)Mg26 reaction directly influences the production of Al26. We have performed a direct measurement of the Na23(α,p)Mg26 reaction cross section at the appropriate astrophysically important energies. The stellar rate calculated in the present work is larger than the recommended rate by nearly a factor of 40 and could strongly affect the production of Al26 in massive stars. © 2014 American Physical Society.