Astrophysical S-factor for $^{16}$O+$^{16}$O within the adiabatic molecular picture

TL;DR

This paper models the astrophysical S-factor for oxygen-16 fusion using an adiabatic molecular approach, successfully explaining experimental data and predicting resonant structures that motivate further low-energy measurements.

Contribution

It introduces an adiabatic molecular model to accurately describe the S-factor for $^{16}$O + $^{16}$O fusion, highlighting the role of collective radial mass in resonance formation.

Findings

The model reproduces experimental S-factor data well.

Resonant structures are predicted at deep sub-barrier energies.

Radial mass effects are significant in fusion cross section behavior.

Abstract

The astrophysical S-factor for $^{16}$O + $^{16}$O is investigated within the adiabatic molecular picture. It very well explains the available experimental data. The collective radial mass causes a pronounced resonant structure in the S-factor excitation function, providing a motivation for measuring the $^{16}$O + $^{16}$O fusion cross section at deep sub-barrier energies.