Proton decays from $\alpha$-unbound states in $^{22}$Mg and the $^{18}$Ne($\alpha, p_{0}$)$^{21}$Na cross section

TL;DR

This study investigates proton decays from $^{22}$Mg and measures the $^{18}$Ne($ extalpha$, p) reaction cross-section relevant for X-ray burst nucleosynthesis using advanced spectrometry techniques.

Contribution

It provides new experimental data on proton decay from $^{22}$Mg and the $^{18}$Ne($ extalpha$, p) cross-section, improving understanding of nuclear processes in X-ray bursts.

Findings

Measured proton decay from $^{22}$Mg states.

Determined the $^{18}$Ne($ extalpha$, p) cross-section.

Compared results with previous measurements.

Abstract

This paper examines the $^{18}$Ne($\alpha, p_{0}$)$^{21}$Na cross-section relevant in X-ray bursts. The study was performed with the K600 magnetic spectrometer in coincidence with the CAKE, a silicon detector array, at iThemba LABS in Cape Town, South Africa. A 100-MeV proton beam was impinged on a $^{24}$Mg target to study the $^{24}$Mg($p,t$)$^{22}$Mg reaction. The triton ejectiles were momentum-analysed with the magnetic spectrometer and proton decays from the $^{22}$Mg recoil nucleus to the ground state of $^{21}$Na and various excited states thereof were detected with the CAKE. In doing so, we were able to compare our results to previous direct and indirect measurements of the $^{18}$Ne($\alpha, p$)$^{21}$Na reaction.