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First Direct Measurement of ^{22}Mg(α,p)^{25}Al and Implications for X-Ray Burst Model-Observation Comparisons
J S Randhawa1,2, Y Ayyad1, W Mittig1,3
1National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824, USA.
Abstract:
Type-I x-ray bursts can reveal the properties of an accreting neutron star system when compared with astrophysics model calculations. However, model results are sensitive to a handful of uncertain nuclear reaction rates, such as ^{22}Mg(α,p). We report the first direct measurement of ^{22}Mg(α,p), performed with the Active Target Time Projection Chamber. The corresponding astrophysical reaction rate is orders of magnitude larger than determined from a previous indirect measurement in a broad temperature range. Our new measurement suggests a less-compact neutron star in the source GS1826-24.
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