Thermonuclear reaction rate of $^{18}$Ne($\alpha$,$p$)$^{21}$Na from Monte-Carlo calculations

TL;DR

This paper provides a revised thermonuclear reaction rate for $^{18}$Ne($ ext{α}$,$p$)$^{21}$Na, derived from Monte-Carlo calculations incorporating experimental data and uncertainties, relevant for astrophysical processes in X-ray bursts.

Contribution

It introduces a new reaction rate calculation method using Monte-Carlo simulations that accounts for all nuclear physics uncertainties, improving accuracy for astrophysical models.

Findings

The reaction rate uncertainty and probability density are quantified versus temperature.

Results are consistent with other indirect estimation methods.

The revised rate impacts models of X-ray burst nucleosynthesis.

Abstract

The $^{18}$Ne($\alpha$,$p$)$^{21}$Na reaction impacts the break-out from the hot CNO-cycles to the $rp$-process in type I X-ray bursts. We present a revised thermonuclear reaction rate, which is based on the latest experimental data. The new rate is derived from Monte-Carlo calculations, taking into account the uncertainties of all nuclear physics input quantities. In addition, we present the reaction rate uncertainty and probability density versus temperature. Our results are also consistent with estimates obtained using different indirect approaches.