Measurements of 12C+12C fusion reaction at Notre Dame

Carbon and oxygen burning reactions, in particular, 12C+12C, are believed to be important for late stellar burning phases. The strength of these fusion reactions could also determine the ignition, burning, and nucleosynthesis pattern in cataclysmic binary systems such as type Ia supernovae and x-ray superbursts. Various experimental work and developments related to measurement of these reaction rates have been carried out at University of Notre Dame. In particular, 12C+12C and 12C+16O fusion experiments with SAND (a silicon detector array) have been conducted at the high-intensity St. ANA accelerator with particle-gamma coincidence and differential target techniques. New results of 12C+12C cross sections at low energies relevant to nuclear astrophysics will be reported and compared with other recent measurements using different approaches. Its impact on the carbon burning process under astrophysical scenarios will be discussed as well.