Speaker
Description
The reaction 22Ne(α,γ)26Mg is associated with several questions in nuclear astrophysics like the Mg isotope ratio in stellar atmospheres and its competition with the neutron source 22Ne(α,n)25Mg.
Due to very low stellar energies and therefore very low cross section, direct experiments have been only able to provide upper limits below a strong resonance at 832 keV.
The purpose of the EASγ project is to perform the first direct measurement of the 22Ne(α,γ)26Mg in the range of astrophysical interest below 600-800 and the remeasurement of the 832 keV resonance.
The measurement will be carried out using the new LUNA MV accelerator at Laboratori Nazionali del Gran Sasso, which provides a high and stable α particle current. Moreover, its position underground and additional passive shielding will reduce the γ-background. The γ-rays produced in the reaction will be detected by a NaI scintillator array surrounding a windowless, recirculating gas target.
Additional information on the excited state of 26Mg near the alpha threshold will be provided by an indirect measurement via 7Li(22Ne, t)26Mg in inverse kinematics, scheduled at the TRIUMF laboratory in Vancouver.
We present the current status of the project and an overview of the planned TRIUMF experiment.
