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Lec 17

The lecture discusses the astrophysical S-factor and non-resonant charged particle induced reactions, focusing on the importance of tunneling and the Gamow peak. It addresses key questions regarding energy dependence, reaction rates, and the characteristics of the Gamow peak in relation to temperature and charge. The document provides equations and examples to illustrate how these factors influence nuclear reactions in astrophysical contexts.

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3 views9 pages

Lec 17

The lecture discusses the astrophysical S-factor and non-resonant charged particle induced reactions, focusing on the importance of tunneling and the Gamow peak. It addresses key questions regarding energy dependence, reaction rates, and the characteristics of the Gamow peak in relation to temperature and charge. The document provides equations and examples to illustrate how these factors influence nuclear reactions in astrophysical contexts.

Uploaded by

issacalbert22
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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NUCLEAR ASTROPHYSICS

Lecture-17
Astrophysical S-factor and Non-resonant charged particle induced reactions…
ANIL KUMAR GOURISHETTY
PHYSICS

1
Recap (p+p reaction and importance of tunneling)

S-factor
Non-resonant charged particle induced reactions - Gamow peak

2
Few questions
How to avoid energy dependence of cross section?

If the reactions are induced by charged particles of different energies, how to identify the
energy range over which maximum number of reactions take place?

How to find most effective energy at which nuclear reactions take place?

How reaction rate depends on temperature?

3
2
𝛹 𝑅𝑛 Solving Schrodinger equation for coulomb
Probability for tunneling 𝑃 = 2
𝛹 𝑅𝑐 potential
1/2
𝑅
𝑎𝑟𝑐𝑡𝑎𝑛 𝑅𝑐 − 1 𝑅𝑛
𝑛 2𝜇
𝑃 ≈ 𝑒𝑥𝑝 −2𝐾𝑅𝑐 − with 𝐾 = 𝑉𝑐 − 𝐸
𝑅𝑐 1/2 𝑅𝑐 ℏ2
−1
𝑅𝑛
At low energies i.e. E < Vc where Rc << Rn, above equation can be approximated as

2𝜋 
𝑃 ≈ 𝑒𝑥𝑝 − 𝑍1 𝑍2 𝑒 2 = 𝑒 −2𝜋η Gamow factor
ℏ 2𝐸
η is Sommerfeld parameter. Numerically,
𝜇
2πη = 31.29 𝑍1 𝑍2 E is in keV and µ is in amu.
𝐸

4
𝑒 −2𝜋η
𝜎 𝐸 =𝑆 𝐸 𝐸

How sigma varies smoothly above Vc and drops


below Vc due to transmission probability?

Astrophysical S-factor reduces the energy dependence


→ Extrapolation is more reliable than 𝜎 𝐸

Ref: C. Iliadis, Wiley-VCH


∞
8 1
For charged particle induced reactions, 𝜎𝑣 = 3/2
න 𝐸 𝜎 𝐸 𝑒 −𝐸/𝑘𝑇 𝑑𝐸
𝜋𝜇 𝑘𝑇 0
𝑒 −2𝜋η
In terms of S-factor i.e., 𝜎 𝐸 = 𝑆 𝐸 , the reaction rate can be written as
𝐸

∞
8 1 −2𝜋η 𝑆 𝐸 𝑒 −𝐸/𝑘𝑇 𝑑𝐸
𝜎𝑣 = න 𝑒
𝜋𝜇 𝑘𝑇 3/2 0

Here, 𝑘𝑇 = 0.086173 𝑇9 MeV

𝑒 −𝐸/𝑘𝑇 approaches zero for large energies

𝑒 −2𝜋η approaches zero for small energies

6
For those values of E when product of both factors is
near its maximum → Major contribution to the integral
→ sharp narrow peak in linear scale → Gamow peak

The centroid of Gamow peak E0 is > maximum of M-B


distribution

Ex: For 12C(, )16O, the maximum of M-B distribution is


at kT= 17 keV and E0 = 0.32 MeV

High-energy tail of the M–B distribution → Most of the


reactions occur

Narrow energy range over which most nuclear reactions


occur in a stellar plasma → Gamow peak Ref: C. Iliadis, Wiley-VCH

7
Few questions
How to calculate the centroid of the peak i.e. E0 and peak width ?

How E0 and  depends on target-projectile charge and Temperature?

How peak area varies with target-projectile charge?

 < E0 (or)  > E0?

How E0 and  varies with Vc?

How maximum intensity of the peak is related to Vc?

8
By taking first derivative of the integrand with respect to
E and equating to zero,
𝐸0 = 1.22 𝑍12 𝑍22 𝜇𝑇62 1/3 (keV)
Reaction E0 (keV)

p+p 5.9
p + 14N 26.5
 + 12C 56.0
16O + 16O 237.0
E0 increases with increasing target–projectile charge

E0 < Vc except for T = 10 GK → tunneling through the barrier

Ref: C. Iliadis, Wiley-VCH, C.E.Rolfs and W.S.Rodney, Univ. of Chicago press


9

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