Measurement of the Neutron Capture Rate of the 12C(n, gamma ) 13C Reaction at Stellar Energy
Abstract
The reaction (C-12)(u,gamma)(C-13) at stellar energy plays important roles in the nucleosynthesis of intermediate-mass nuclei in inhomogeneous big bang models and in that of heavy elements during stellar evolution. In the present study, the reaction rate was measured by detecting gamma-rays emitted from a captured state; 16.8 + or - 2.1 microbarn was obtained, about 5 times larger than the estimated value from the thermal-neutron capture cross section. The present result favors the nucleosynthesis of intermediate-mass nuclei in inhomogeneous big bang models and also of heavy elements in exploding supernovae.
- Publication:
-
The Astrophysical Journal
- Pub Date:
- May 1991
- DOI:
- 10.1086/170010
- Bibcode:
- 1991ApJ...372..683N
- Keywords:
-
- Big Bang Cosmology;
- Carbon Isotopes;
- Cosmic Plasma;
- Cosmochemistry;
- Neutrons;
- Trapped Particles;
- Baryons;
- Reaction Kinetics;
- Stellar Evolution;
- Supernovae;
- Thermal Neutrons;
- Astrophysics;
- NUCLEAR REACTIONS;
- NUCLEOSYNTHESIS