Nucleosynthesis: what direct reactions can do for it?

TL;DR

This paper reviews recent developments in indirect experimental methods and theoretical approaches used to determine low-energy nuclear reaction rates crucial for understanding stellar nucleosynthesis.

Contribution

It summarizes advancements in indirect reaction techniques and their application to astrophysical S-factor extraction, highlighting progress in experimental and theoretical methods.

Findings

Development of new experimental techniques for indirect reactions

Application of these methods to measure astrophysical S-factors

Enhanced understanding of stellar nucleosynthesis processes

Abstract

The reactions of relevance for stellar evolution are difficult to measure directly in the laboratory at the small astrophysical energies. In recent years indirect reaction methods have been developed and applied to extract low-energy astrophysical S-factors. These methods require a combination of new experimental techniques and theoretical efforts, which are the subject of this short review.