Alpha-induced reactions on 10B
PI: Marialuisa Aliotta
The study of the 10B + α reactions is of significant astrophysical interest as a potential alternative pathway for the synthesis of elements in the CNO mass region, particularly in the context of first-generation (Population III) stars. In these early stellar environments, conventional CNO nucleosynthesis may be suppressed due to the absence of initial seed nuclei, and reactions involving light elements like boron could play a crucial role. At the LUNA underground laboratory, we aim to investigate the 10B(α,p), 10B(α,d), and 10B(α,n)13N reaction channels at the low energies relevant to stellar interiors. Charged particle detection will be used to study the (α,p) and (α,d) channels, while the (α,n)13N reaction will be probed via an activation technique, exploiting the β+ decay of 13N (half-life ≈ 10 minutes), which produces 511 keV annihilation gamma rays. These will be detected in coincidence by opposing crystals of a BGO detector array, enhancing sensitivity. To extend measurements to even lower energies, where activation becomes challenging, we will also explore direct neutron detection using deuterated liquid scintillators. These studies will provide valuable constraints on nucleosynthesis pathways in the early universe and improve our understanding of the chemical evolution driven by the first stars.
These studies form part of the ERC Advanced Grant NUCLEAR, NUclear CLustering Effects in Astrophysical Reactions: Nucleosynthesis in First Stars and Other Puzzles, funded by the UKRI Frontier Research Grant Scheme (grant number: EP/Z534626/1] https://www.erc-nuclear.uk