$^{30}$P$(p,\gamma)^{31}$S reaction rate in novae: lifetimes of $^{31}$S states*

In classical novae, the $^{30}$P$(p,\gamma)^{31}$S reaction acts as a nucleosynthesis bottleneck. Its reaction rate is dominated by proton capture into narrow $^{31}$S resonances. To constrain the resonance strengths, we carried out lifetime measurements of the $^{31}$S resonances using the Doppler Shift Lifetime device at the TRIUMF-ISAC facility. The $^{31}$S excited states were populated by the $^{3}$He$(^{32}$S$,\alpha)^{31}$S reaction. The deexcitation $\gamma$ rays were detected by HPGe detectors in coincidence with the $\alpha$ particles detected by a Si telescope. The lifetimes for $^{31}$S excited states including a resonance in the region of interest were constrained by using the Doppler Shift Attenuation Method.