The F-17(p, gamma)Ne-18 direct capture cross section

Abstract

The F-17(p,gamma)Ne-18 reaction is important for understanding nucleosynthesis in novae. This reaction rate is expected to be dominated by the unmeasured direct-capture cross section at nova temperatures. We have measured cross sections for the proton-transfer reaction N-14(F-17,Ne-18)C-13 to determine F-17+p asymptotic normalization coefficients for Ne-18 bound states and the F-17(p,gamma)Ne-18 direct-capture cross section. Elastic scattering cross sections for the N-14(F-17,F-17)N-14 and C-12(F-17,F-17)C-12 reactions were also measured and used to determine reliable optical-model parameters within the framework of a microscopic double-folding model. Here we present the technique and some preliminary results.