Influence of protons on the capture of electrons by 7Be in the Sun

The capture of electrons by the nucleus Be-7 from the three-body initial state p+e(-)+Be-7 in the continuum is studied. On the basis of the expansion of the three-body continuum wave function in the small parameter epsilon approximate to(m(e)/m(p))(1/2) [m(e) (m(p)) is the electron (proton) mass], the role of the protons on the electron capture is considered. The results are compared with the traditional treatment of the electron capture by the nucleus Be-7. For stars with density and temperature like in the center of the Sun the studied mechanism can make a non-negligible contribution to the capture rate.