Deep Underground Laboratory Measurement of 13C(α, n) 16O in the Gamow Windows of the s and i Processes

The C-13(alpha, n)O-16 reaction is the main neutron source for the slow-neutron-capture process in asymptotic giant branch stars and for the intermediate process. Direct measurements at astrophysical energies in aboveground laboratories are hindered by the extremely small cross sections and vast cosmic-ray-induced background. We performed the first consistent direct measurement in the range of E-c.m = 0.24 to 1.9 MeV using the accelerators at the China Jinping Underground Laboratory and Sichuan University. Our measurement covers almost the entire intermediate process Gamow window in which the large uncertainty of the previous experiments has been reduced from 60% down to 15%, eliminates the large systematic uncertainty in the extrapolation arising from the inconsistency of existing datasets, and provides a more reliable reaction rate for the studies of the slow-neutron-capture and intermediate processes along with the first direct determination of the alpha strength for the near-threshold state.

Automated summary

This study presents the first consistent direct measurement of the C-13(alpha, n)O-16 reaction, covering a wide energy range. The measurement reduces the uncertainty and systematic error compared to previous experiments and provides more reliable reaction rate and alpha strength data.