Evaluation of Experimental Constraints on the $^{44}$Ti($\alpha$,p)$^{47}$V Reaction Cross Section Relevant for Supernovae

TL;DR

This paper compares experimental data with statistical models to constrain the $^{44}$Ti($ extalpha$,p)$^{47}$V reaction rate, which is crucial for understanding $^{44}$Ti production in supernovae.

Contribution

It provides the first systematic comparison of literature data with models to narrow down reaction rate uncertainties for supernova nucleosynthesis.

Findings

Experimental data helps constrain reaction rate variations.

Model comparisons identify temperature ranges with high uncertainty.

Recommendations for future measurements are proposed.

Abstract

Due to its importance as an astronomical observable in core-collapse supernovae (CCSNe), the reactions producing and destroying $^{44}$Ti must be well constrained. Generally, statistical model calculations such as Hauser-Feshbach are employed when experimental cross sections are not available, but the variation in such adopted rates can be large. Here, data from the literature is compared with statistical model calculations of the $^{44}$Ti($\alpha$,p)$^{47}$V reaction cross section and used to constrain the possible reaction rate variation over the temperatures relevant to CCSNe. Suggestions for targeted future measurements are given.