Study of the $^{17}$F($p,\alpha$)$^{14}$O reaction at $TwinSol$
ORAL
Abstract
The $^{14}$O($\alpha,p$)$^{17}$F reaction is an important trigger reaction to the $\alpha p$ process in X-ray bursts. The best experimental constraints on its astrophysical rate come from measurements of the time-inverse reaction, $^{17}$F($p,\alpha$)$^{14}$O. Previous studies of this inverse reaction have nicely characterized the high-energy dependence of the cross section but there are still significant uncertainties at lower energies. A new measurement of the $^{17}$F($p,\alpha$)$^{14}$O cross section is underway at the University of Notre Dame $TwinSol$ facility using an in-flight secondary $^{17}$F beam. Initial tests will be presented along with plans for the completion of the measurement.
*This work is supported in part by the National Science Foundation, the U.S. DOE Office of Nuclear Physics, and the Joint Institute for Nuclear Astrophysics - CEE.
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