Neutron-upscattering enhancement of the triple-alpha process

J. Bishop (), C. E. Parker, G. V. Rogachev, S. Ahn, E. Koshchiy, K. Brandenburg, C. R. Brune, R. J. Charity, J. Derkin, N. Dronchi, G. Hamad, Y. Jones-Alberty, Tz. Kokalova, T. N. Massey, Z. Meisel, E. V. Ohstrom, S. N. Paneru, E. C. Pollacco, M. Saxena, N. Singh, R. Smith, L. G. Sobotka, D. Soltesz, S. K. Subedi, A. V. Voinov, J. Warren and C. Wheldon
Additional contact information
J. Bishop: Texas A&M University
C. E. Parker: Texas A&M University
G. V. Rogachev: Texas A&M University
S. Ahn: Texas A&M University
E. Koshchiy: Texas A&M University
K. Brandenburg: Department of Physics & Astronomy, Ohio University
C. R. Brune: Department of Physics & Astronomy, Ohio University
R. J. Charity: Washington University
J. Derkin: Department of Physics & Astronomy, Ohio University
N. Dronchi: Washington University
G. Hamad: Department of Physics & Astronomy, Ohio University
Y. Jones-Alberty: Department of Physics & Astronomy, Ohio University
Tz. Kokalova: University of Birmingham
T. N. Massey: Department of Physics & Astronomy, Ohio University
Z. Meisel: Department of Physics & Astronomy, Ohio University
E. V. Ohstrom: Washington University
S. N. Paneru: Department of Physics & Astronomy, Ohio University
E. C. Pollacco: Université Paris-Saclay
M. Saxena: Department of Physics & Astronomy, Ohio University
N. Singh: Department of Physics & Astronomy, Ohio University
R. Smith: Sheffield Hallam University
L. G. Sobotka: Washington University
D. Soltesz: Department of Physics & Astronomy, Ohio University
S. K. Subedi: Department of Physics & Astronomy, Ohio University
A. V. Voinov: Department of Physics & Astronomy, Ohio University
J. Warren: Department of Physics & Astronomy, Ohio University
C. Wheldon: University of Birmingham

Nature Communications, 2022, vol. 13, issue 1, 1-5

Abstract: Abstract The neutron inelastic scattering of carbon-12, populating the Hoyle state, is a reaction of interest for the triple-alpha process. The inverse process (neutron upscattering) can enhance the Hoyle state’s decay rate to the bound states of 12C, effectively increasing the overall triple-alpha reaction rate. The cross section of this reaction is impossible to measure experimentally but has been determined here at astrophysically-relevant energies using detailed balance. Using a highly-collimated monoenergetic beam, here we measure neutrons incident on the Texas Active Target Time Projection Chamber (TexAT TPC) filled with CO2 gas, we measure the 3α-particles (arising from the decay of the Hoyle state following inelastic scattering) and a cross section is extracted. Here we show the neutron-upscattering enhancement is observed to be much smaller than previously expected. The importance of the neutron-upscattering enhancement may therefore not be significant aside from in very particular astrophysical sites (e.g. neutron star mergers).

Date: 2022
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-29848-7

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