Nuclear Seminar

Spectrometers and (p,t) reactions: Tools for understanding X-ray bursts

Shawn O'Brien
University of Notre Dame

Monday, November 9, 2009   4:00 p.m.   NSH 124
(Refreshments served prior to seminar in NSH 124)

³⁰S, ³⁴Ar and ³⁸Ca have been studied with the (p,t) reaction on thin ³²S and ⁴⁰Ca foils and a ³⁶Ar gas target at RCNP using the Grand Raiden spectrometer at 0-degrees with fully dispersion matched beam. Many states have been seen for the first time, especially above the α-thresholds. This more complete and accurate set of data will help to more confidently calculate various reactions rates associated with the αp-process, which is thought to occur during type-I X-ray bursts. The experimental technique will be discussed and the results and astrophysical implications will be presented.