Towards a comprehensive study of the 14N(p,g)15O astrophysical key reaction: Description of the experimental technique including novel target preparation

TL;DR

This paper details an experimental study of the 14N(p,g)15O reaction, crucial for stellar hydrogen burning, focusing on innovative target preparation and initial reaction yield measurements to improve reaction rate precision.

Contribution

It introduces a novel solid-state nitrogen target production method and reports initial reaction yield data for the 14N(p,g)15O reaction.

Findings

Reaction yield measured at 55° detection angle

Description of new nitrogen target preparation technique

Initial data for reaction cross section in 250-1500 keV range

Abstract

While the 14N(p,g)15O reaction plays a key role in the hydrogen-burning processes in various stellar conditions, its reaction rate is not known with sufficient precision. Therefore, the first scientific project at the recently launched Bellotti Ion Beam Facility of the Laboratori Nazionali del Gran Sasso was the measurement of the 14N(p,g)15O reaction cross section in the proton energy range between 250 and 1500 keV. In this paper, the experimental techniques are summarized with special emphasis on the description of solid state nitrogen target production and characterization. The first results of the reaction yield measured at 55 deg detection angle are also presented.