Suchergebnisse

The current evaluation of the triple-α reaction rate assumes that the α decay of the 7.65 MeV, 0 + state in C12, commonly known as the Hoyle state, proceeds sequentially via the ground state of Be8. This assumption is challenged by the recent identification of two direct α-decay branches with a combined branching ratio of 17(5)%. If correct, this would imply a corresponding reduction in the triple-α reaction rate with important astrophysical consequences. We have used the B11(He3,d) reaction to populate the Hoyle state and measured the decay to three α particles in complete kinematics. We find no evidence for direct α-decay branches, and hence our data do not support a revision of the triple-α reaction rate. We obtain an upper limit of 5×10 -3 on the direct α decay of the Hoyle state at 95% C.L., which is 1 order of magnitude better than a previous upper limit. © 2012 American Physical Society. ; Support of the Spanish CICYT Research Grants No. FPA2009-07387 and No. FPA2010-17142 and the MICINN Consolider Project No. CSD 2007-00042 as well as the support of the European Union VI Framework through RII3-EURONS/JRA4-DLEP(Contract No. 506065). O. S. K. acknowledges support from the Villum Kann Rasmussen Foundation. ; Peer Reviewed

Absolute branching ratios to unbound states in C12 populated in the β decays of N12 and B12 are reported. Clean sources of N12 and B12 were obtained using the isotope separation on-line (ISOL) method. The relative branching ratios to the different populated states were extracted using single-alpha as well as complete kinematics triple-alpha spectra. These two largely independent methods give consistent results. Absolute normalization is achieved via the precisely known absolute branching ratio to the bound 4.44 MeV state in C12. The extracted branching ratios to the unbound states are a factor of three more precise than previous measurements. Branching ratios in the decay of Na20 are also extracted and used to check the results. © 2009 The American Physical Society. ; Supported by the Academy of Finland (Project No. 44875), by the Spanish Agency CICYT (Nos. FPA2007–62170 and FPA2007–62216), by the European Union Sixth Framework Programme "EURONS" (No. 506065), by the Swedish Research Council, and the Knut and Alice Wallenberg foundation. ; Peer Reviewed