Loading...
Measuring the neon-20 radiative proton capture rate at DRAGON
Karpesky, Jonathan
Karpesky, Jonathan
Citations
Altmetric:
Advisor
Editor
Date
Date Issued
2020
Date Submitted
Keywords
Collections
Research Projects
Organizational Units
Journal Issue
Embargo Expires
Abstract
Understanding the abundance levels of isotopes produced in oxygen-neon (ONe) novaewithin our galaxy requires accurate measurements of nuclear reaction rates within theirassociated reaction networks. During these cataclysmic events, the produced radioisotope 22Na is ejected into the interstellar medium and β-decays predominately to the first excitedstate in 22Ne leading to a characteristic 1.275 MeV γ-ray. To date, there has been noastronomical observation of this characteristic γ-ray that can be a potential probe into thephysics occuring within novae. The production of 22Na in classical novae is limited by the20Ne(p, γ)21Na nuclear reaction that is the focus of this experiment. Using the DRAGONrecoil separator, new measurements of the 20 Ne(p, γ)21Na reaction are performed at center-of-mass energies ranging from 265.5 - 519.6 keV that reach towards the astrophysically relevantenergy ranges. The goal is to reduce experimental uncertainties in the 20Ne(p, γ)21Na reactionrate in order to be able to constrain the astrophysical S-factor. In addition, in the frameof this thesis a differential cross-section measurement was performed of 3He + p scatteringto test the performance of the new Colorado School of Mines designed and built SONIK scattering chamber.
Associated Publications
Rights
Copyright of the original work is retained by the author.