Session BE: Nuclear Astrophysics I
2:00 PM–4:00 PM, Thursday, October 11, 2007
Newport News Marriott at City Center Room: Grand Salon V
Chair: Richard Cyburt, NSCL Michigan State University
Abstract ID: BAPS.2007.DNP.BE.6
Abstract: BE.00006 : A precision measurement of the $^{3}$He($\alpha$,$\gamma$)$^{7}$Be astrophysical S-factor
3:00 PM–3:12 PM
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Abstract 
Authors:
T.A.D. Brown
(University of Washington)
K.A. Snover
(University of Washington)
D.W. Storm
(University of Washington)
C. Bordeanu
(University of Washington)
D. Melconian
(University of Washington)
A.L. Sallaska
(University of Washington)
S.K.L. Sjue
(University of Washington)
S. Triambak
(University of Washington)
A.M. Crisp
(University of Washington)
J.D. Lowrey
(University of Washington)
K. Michnicki
(University of Washington)
P. Peplowski
(University of Washington)
J. Sibille
(University of Washington)
The $^{3}$He($\alpha$,$\gamma$)$^{7}$Be reaction is the gateway to the ppII and ppIII branches, providing the principle route to energetic neutrino production in the Sun. The uncertainty on the accepted value of S(0) for this reaction is currently the largest important nuclear physics uncertainty (+/- 10$\%$) in the Solar Model [1]. A more precise value of S$_{34}$(0) would bring an improvement in solar neutrino flux calculations, and in predictions of $^{7}$Li production in Big-Bang Nucleosynthesis which are currently significantly higher than observed $^{7}$Li abundances [2]. Precision measurements of S$_{34}$(E) have been made at eight different energies between E$_{CM}$ = 329 and 1235 keV, using the terminal ion source on the Van-de-Graaff accelerator at the University of Washington. The prompt gamma-ray yield and the $^{7}$Be activity have been measured at each energy in the same irradiation, permitting two different methods for determining S$_{34}$(E). This presentation discusses the experimental details of these measurements, the analysis of the data and our results for S$_{34}$(0). \newline \noindent [1] E. G. Adelberger \textit{et al.}, Rev. Mod. Phys. \textbf{70} 4 (1998) 1265 \newline [2] P. Bonifacio \textit{et al.}, Astron. Astrophys. \textbf{390} (2002) 91 \newline
To cite this abstract, use the following reference: http://meetings.aps.org/link/BAPS.2007.DNP.BE.6