Measuring Ne-19 alpha-Branching Ratios with the JENSA Gas-Jet Target
ORAL
Abstract
The $^{15}$O($\alpha,\gamma$)$^{19}$Ne reaction is an important trigger reaction leading to the rapid proton ($rp$) capture process in X-ray bursts. The primary uncertainty in determining its astrophysical rate is the uncertain $\alpha$ branching ratios of levels near $E_x=4.1$ MeV in $^{19}$Ne. These states have been populated in a study of the $^{20}$Ne($p,d$)$^{19}$Ne reaction utilizing the JENSA gas-jet target at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. $\alpha$ branching ratios have been extracted for several $^{19}$Ne levels. Preliminary results will be presented.
*This work is supported by the DOE Office of Nuclear Physics, the National Nuclear Security Administration, the National Science Foundation, and the Joint Institute for Nuclear Astrophysics.
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