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Alpha-induced reactions in nuclear astrophysics

Lead Research Organisation: University of York
Department Name: Physics

Abstract

Studying the 15N(a,g) and 17O(a,n) reactions using direct and indirect techniques to better understand nucleosynthesis in AGB and massive stars.

People

ORCID iD

Publications

10 25 50
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J. W. Frost-Schenk (2020) Alpha capture reactions for abundance observations in nuclear astrophysics

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Frost-Schenk J (2018) Cycling the hot CNO: a teaching methodology in Physics Education

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Turturica G (2019) Investigation of Compton scattering for gamma beam intensity measurements and perspectives at ELI-NP in Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment

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Munch M (2020) Measurement of the 7 Li ( ? , t ) 4 He ground-state cross section between E ? = 4.4 and 10 MeV in Physical Review C

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Frost-Schenk J (2022) The impact of 17O + a reaction rate uncertainties on the s-process in rotating massive stars in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society

Studentship Projects

Project Reference Relationship Related To Start End Student Name
ST/N50452X/1 30/09/2015 30/03/2021
1799912 Studentship ST/N50452X/1 31/03/2016 30/11/2019
 
Description The findings comprise of two key experimental outcomes:
- A measurement of 15N + 4He occurred for the study of 19F abundances. The first directly measured measurement of the direct capture cross-section occurred using DRAGON, utilising a windowless He gas target and 15N beam. The work was intended to help explain galactic spectra.
- Measurement of 21Ne occurred at TUNL (Triangle Universities Nuclear Laboratory) utilising a neutron transfer process. The measurement has helped restrain the ratio of what happens after 17O reacts with an alpha particle; whether it proceeds by emitting a neutron or gamma. This work has further improved the understanding of 16O as a neutron poison, which is useful in stellar models. The reaction has also obtained information on states in 21Ne.
I have also been involved in outreach, including publication based on these activities, and it is hoped that this component of the work has had a positive impact on those considering studying physics.
Exploitation Route There have already been 3 further measurements based on this work.
Sectors Other