Examination and experimental constraints of the stellar reaction rate factor $N_A < \sigma v >$ of the $^{18}$Ne($\alpha$,$p$)$^{21}$Na reaction at temperatures of X-Ray Bursts

TL;DR

This paper evaluates and constrains the reaction rate of $^{18}$Ne($ extalpha$,$p$)$^{21}$Na crucial for X-ray burst models, reconciling conflicting experimental data to derive a more accurate rate factor.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive analysis of existing experimental data and derives a new, more consistent reaction rate factor for $^{18}$Ne($ extalpha$,$p$)$^{21}$Na, resolving previous discrepancies.

Findings

The new rate factor is slightly below Matic et al.'s at low temperatures.

It is significantly lower than Matic et al.'s at higher temperatures.

It is about five times higher than Salter et al.'s recent rate.

Abstract

The $^{18}$Ne($\alpha$,$p$)$^{21}$Na reaction is one key for the break-out from the hot CNO-cycles to the $rp$-process. Recent papers have provided reaction rate factors $N_A < \sigma v >$ which are discrepant by at least one order of magnitude. The compatibility of the latest experimental results is tested, and a partial explanation for the discrepant $N_A<\sigma v>$ is given. A new rate factor is derived from the combined analysis of all available data. The new rate factor is located slightly below the higher rate factor by Matic {\it et al.}\ at low temperatures and significantly below at higher temperatures whereas it is about a factor of five higher than the lower rate factor recently published by Salter {\it et al.}