Study of the ¹⁷O(n, \(\alpha \))¹⁴C Reaction: Extension of the Trojan Horse Method to the Neutrons Induced Reactions

Abstract

The experimental study of the 17 O(n,α) 14 C reaction has been performed in the energy range 0-350 keV. This reaction could play an important role in explaining heavy elements (s-process) nucleosynthesis in various astrophysical scenario. To overcome the practical problems arising from the neutrons production, a new application of the Trojan Horse Method has been recently suggested. In more details, the 17 O(n,α) 14 C reaction has been studied using the quasi-free 2 H( 17 O,α 14 C) 1 H reaction, induced at an energy of 43.5 MeV. The measurement allows one to investigate the ℓ=3, 75 keV resonance (E * =8.125 MeV, J π =5 − ), absent in the available direct measurements because of centrifugal suppression effects. Moreover, the results show that the contribution of the 166 keV and 236 keV resonances is in energy agreement with the available direct data. A clear contribution of the -7 keV subthreshold level is also present.