Nuclear energy levels of $^{31}$S and astrophysical implications

ORAL

Abstract

Nucleosynthesis in the mass range from silicon to calcium in oxygen-neon novae is heavily influenced by the unmeasured strength of the $^{30}$P$(p,\gamma)^{31}$S reaction. We have studied the $^{31}$P$(^{3}$He$,t)^{31}$S and $^{31}$P$(^{3}$He$,t)^{31}$S$^{*}(p)^{30}$P reactions to measure resonance energies and proton branching ratios in the $^{30} $P$~+~p$ system. Our results will be presented in the contexts of novae, x-ray bursts and oxygen burning in massive stars. A direct measurement of resonance strengths in the $^{30}$P$(p,\gamma)^ {31}$S reaction is planned for the future.

*This work is supported in part by the U.~S. Department of Energy under grant No. DE-FG02-91ER-40609.

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Authors

  • Christopher Wrede

    • Yale U.
    • Yale University

  • J.A. Caggiano

    • TRIUMF

  • J.A. Clark

    • Yale U.

  • C. Deibel

    • Yale U.

  • D.A. Hutcheon

    • TRIUMF

  • R. Lewis

    • U. of York

  • A. Parikh

    • Yale U.

  • P.D. Parker

    • Yale U.

  • C. Westerfeldt

    • Duke U.