Strength of the [Formula presented] Resonance at [Formula presented]

D. W. Bardayan, ORNL Physics Division
J. C. Batchelder, Oak Ridge Associated Universities
J. C. Blackmon, ORNL Physics Division
A. E. Champagne, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
T. Davinson, The University of Edinburgh
R. Fitzgerald, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
W. R. Hix, ORNL Physics Division
C. Iliadis, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
R. L. Kozub, Tennessee Technological University
Z. Ma, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville
S. Parete-Koon, ORNL Physics Division
P. D. Parker, Yale University
N. Shu, ORNL Physics Division
M. S. Smith, ORNL Physics Division
P. J. Woods, The University of Edinburgh

Abstract

Production of the radioisotope [Formula presented] in novae is severely constrained by the rate of the [Formula presented] reaction. A resonance at [Formula presented] may strongly enhance the [Formula presented] reaction rate, but its strength has been very uncertain. We have determined the strength of this important resonance by measuring the [Formula presented] cross section on and off resonance using a radioactive [Formula presented] beam at the ORNL Holifield Radioactive Ion Beam Facility. We find that its resonance strength is [Formula presented], and that it dominates the [Formula presented] reaction rate over a significant range of temperatures characteristic of ONeMg novae. © 2002 The American Physical Society.