Nucleosynthesis of Al-26 at low stellar temperatures
Abstract
Measurements of the resonant behavior of the Mg-25 + p system have been extended in order to determine the stellar temperatures and conditions that produced Mg-26 anomalies observed in carbonaceous chondrites. The strengths of the 37.2 keV and 94.0 keV resonances were assayed to characterize the Mg-25(p, gamma)Al-26 reaction rate as a function of temperature. The 37.2 keV resonance significantly enhanced the reaction rate at lower temperatures than previously predicted by studies at higher energies, i.e., an increase of the reaction rate by an order of magnitude was observed. The results indicate substantial pre-explosive processing and Al production due to quiescent proton burning in a stellar atmosphere, with dispersion possibly coming from a supernova mechanism. It is concluded that hydrogen burning is the most probable source of Al-26.
- Publication:
-
The Astrophysical Journal
- Pub Date:
- June 1983
- DOI:
- 10.1086/161077
- Bibcode:
- 1983ApJ...269..686C
- Keywords:
-
- Aluminum 26;
- Late Stars;
- Nuclear Fusion;
- Stellar Temperature;
- Magnesium Isotopes;
- Reaction Kinetics;
- Resonance;
- S Waves;
- Astrophysics