Ne 19 level structure for explosive nucleosynthesis

M. R. Hall, University of Notre Dame
D. W. Bardayan, University of Notre Dame
T. Baugher, Rutgers University–New Brunswick
A. Lepailleur, Rutgers University–New Brunswick
S. D. Pain, ORNL Physics Division
A. Ratkiewicz, Rutgers University–New Brunswick
S. Ahn, Michigan State University
J. M. Allen, University of Notre Dame
J. T. Anderson, Argonne National Laboratory
A. D. Ayangeakaa, Argonne National Laboratory
J. C. Blackmon, Louisiana State University
S. Burcher, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville
M. P. Carpenter, Argonne National Laboratory
S. M. Cha, Sungkyunkwan University
K. Y. Chae, Sungkyunkwan University
K. A. Chipps, ORNL Physics Division
J. A. Cizewski, Rutgers University–New Brunswick
M. Febbraro, ORNL Physics Division
O. Hall, University of Notre Dame
J. Hu, University of Notre Dame
C. L. Jiang, Argonne National Laboratory
K. L. Jones, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville
E. J. Lee, Sungkyunkwan University
P. D. O'Malley, University of Notre Dame
S. Ota, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
B. C. Rasco, Louisiana State University
D. Santiago-Gonzalez, Louisiana State University
D. Seweryniak, Argonne National Laboratory
H. Sims, Rutgers University–New Brunswick
K. Smith, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville
W. P. Tan, University of Notre Dame
P. Thompson, ORNL Physics Division
C. Thornsberry, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville

Abstract

Background: Ne19 is an important isotope in nuclear astrophysics due to its role in both the F18(p,α)O15 and O15(α,γ)Ne19 reactions in novae and Type I x-ray bursts, respectively. The energy levels of Ne19 near the α and proton thresholds (Sα=3529 keV, Sp=6410 keV) correspond to resonances in both of these reactions. Previous measurements to study the structure of Ne19 have focused on both regions in an effort to constrain these reaction rates. Purpose: Discrepancies in the energies, spins, and parities for levels in Ne19 from previous measurements contribute to the reaction-rate uncertainties. Gamma rays from the depopulation of excited states in Ne19 were measured to reduce the level-energy uncertainties and inconsistencies in previous spin-parity assignments. Methods: The F19(He3,t)Ne19 reaction was used to elucidate the structure of Ne19 levels up to Ex=6.9 MeV. The reaction products were measured using Gammasphere ORRUBA: Dual Detectors for Experimental Structure Studies - a coupling of the Oak Ridge Rutgers University Barrel Array and Gammasphere at Argonne National Laboratory. Tritons produced in the reaction were measured in coincidence with γ rays from the deexcitation of Ne19 energy levels. Results: Previously unobserved transitions allowed for discrepancies in the resonance properties relevant to these two reactions to be resolved. In total, 41 transitions from 21 energy levels were measured in Ne19, with 21 of those transitions being previously unobserved. Of particular importance, transitions from two 3/2+ states with energies of 6423(3) and 6441(3) keV, crucial for accurate estimations of the F18(p,α)O15 reaction rate, were found. Conclusions: Energies and spin-parities of important energy levels near the proton and α thresholds were measured and some of the discrepancies in previous measurements were resolved. Measurement of the two near-threshold 3/2+ states reduced the calculated upper limit of the F18(p,α)O15 reaction rate by factors of 1.5-17 in the nova temperature range.