Nucleosynthesis of AGB stars: a complete study of the 23N + p reaction

• Grant number: 14/11670-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research
• Start date: February 16, 2015
• End date: February 15, 2016
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Physics - Nuclear Physics
• Principal Investigator: Leandro Romero Gasques
• Grantee: Leandro Romero Gasques
• Host Investigator: Lucio Gialanella
• Host Institution: Instituto de Física (IF). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: Seconda Università degli Studi di Napoli (SUN), Italy

Abstract

The main goal of the project is to establish a scientific collaboration between Brazil and Italy by investigating a series of reactions of astrophysical interest . It is planned to carry out measurements of cross sections for 23Na(p,a)20Ne and 23Na(p,g)24Mg reactions using particle accelerators installed in the Laboratory CIRCE (Center for Isotopic Research on Cultural and Environmental Heritage), Caserta, and LUNA (Laboratory for Underground Nuclear Astrophysics), Gran Sasso. The CIRCE is equipped with a 3 MV tandem accelerator while LUNA has an accelerator at 400 kV. Besides the experimental measurements, the applicant will benefit from the experience of the research group of CIRCE with regard to the development of windowless jet gas targets. Consequently, a gas target is planned to be developed in Brazil, which will primarily be used to measure the direct capture cross section for the 12C(a, g)16O reaction in an energy range never before explored. Those measurements will be performed using the 8 MV tandem accelerator of the LAFN (Laboratório Aberto de Física Nuclear) of the IFUSP . Although this measurement is not directly related to the scope of this project it will certainly contribute to the development of a new line of research in Brazil, enabling the investigation of other reactions of interest for astrophysics. (AU)