Investigation of excited states in $^{18}$Ne via resonant elastic scattering of $^{17}$F+p and its astrophysical implication in the stellar reaction of $^{14}$O($\alpha$,$p$)$^{17}$F

TL;DR

This study investigates proton resonances in $^{18}$Ne using resonant elastic scattering with a radioactive $^{17}$F beam, providing new resonance parameters that significantly impact the reaction rates relevant to x-ray bursters.

Contribution

The paper presents new experimental data on $^{18}$Ne resonances and refines the reaction rates for $^{14}$O($ ext{α}$,$p$)$^{17}$F, highlighting their importance in astrophysical processes.

Findings

Identification of several proton resonances in $^{18}$Ne.

Reassignment of the key 1$^-$ state to a different energy level.

Resonant reaction rates are 4-6 times larger than previous estimates.

Abstract

Properties of proton resonances in $^{18}$Ne have been investigated efficiently by utilizing a technique of proton resonant elastic scattering with a $^{17}$F radioactive ion (RI) beam and a thick proton target. A 4.22~MeV/nucleon $^{17}$F RI beam was produced via a projectile-fragmentation reaction, and subsequently separated by a Radioactive Ion Beam Line in Lanzhou ({\tt RIBLL}). Energy spectra of the recoiled protons were measured by two sets of $\Delta$E-E silicon telescope at center-of-mass scattering angles of $\theta_{c.m.}$$\approx$175${^\circ}$$\pm$5${^\circ}$, $\theta_{c.m.}$$\approx$152${^\circ}$$\pm$8${^\circ}$, respectively. Several proton resonances in $^{18}$Ne were observed, and their resonant parameters have been determined by an $R$-matrix analysis of the differential cross sections in combination with the previous results. The resonant parameters are related to the reaction-rate calculation of the stellar $^{14}$O($\alpha$,$p$)$^{17}$F reaction, which was thought to be the breakout reaction from the hot CNO cycles into the $rp$-process in x-ray bursters. Here, $J^\pi$=(3$^-$, 2$^-$) are tentatively assigned to the 6.15-MeV state which was thought the key 1$^-$ state previously. In addition, a doublet structure at 7.05 MeV are tentatively identified, and its contribution to the resonant reaction rate of $^{14}$O($\alpha$,$p$)$^{17}$F could be enhanced by at least factors of about 4$\sim$6 in comparison with the previous estimation involving only a singlet. The present calculated resonant rates are much larger than those previous values, and it may imply that this breakout reaction could play a crucial role under x-ray bursters conditions.