Proton Emission from $^{31}$S and the $^{30}$P$(p,\gamma)^{31}$S Reaction Rate in Classical Novae
ORAL
Abstract
The $^{30}$P$(p,\gamma)^{31}$S reaction rate is the largest remaining source of uncertainty in the final abundances of nuclei produced in ONe novae. To further constrain the reaction rate, uncertainties in the properties of the key resonant states in $^{31}$S must be reduced. The $^{32}$S$(p,d)^{31}$S reaction was used to populate proton-unbound states in $^{31}$S, and their subsequent decay was observed. The measurement was carried out at the Texas A$\&$M Cyclotron Institute utilizing the LLNL Hyperion particle-gamma coincidence spectrometer. Reaction deuterons were detected in a silicon telescope located at forward angles, and decay protons were detected by a single silicon detector positioned at backward angles. Proton decay branching ratios and spin-parity assignments for several states in $^{31}$S will be presented.
*Support from the U.S. DOE - Office of Science, US DOE - NNSA, National Science Foundation, The Welch Foundation, and LDRD Program at ORNL. This work was performed under the auspices of the U.S. DOE by LLNL under Contract DE-AC52-07NA27344.
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