Using Two-Proton Transfer to Study H and He Burning Reactions of Type-1 X-Ray Bursts*

The reaction rate of the $^{\mathrm{59}}$Cu(p,$\gamma )^{\mathrm{60}}$Zn has been identified to have a significant impact on the light curve of X-ray bursts, controlling the reaction flow out of the Ni-Cu cycle impacting the late-time light curve. Using two proton transfer, $^{\mathrm{58}}$Ni($^{\mathrm{3}}$He,n)$^{\mathrm{60}}$Zn can be used to study the $^{\mathrm{59}}$Cu(p,$\gamma )^{\mathrm{60}}$Zn reaction. We are currently using the neutron evaporation spectrum from $^{\mathrm{58}}$Ni($^{\mathrm{3}}$He,n)$^{\mathrm{60}}$Zn in order to extract the level density of $^{\mathrm{60}}$Zn and constrain $^{\mathrm{59}}$Cu(p,$\gamma )^{\mathrm{60}}$Zn. To augment the ($^{\mathrm{3}}$He,n) technique for lower level-density compound nuclides, a silicon detector array is currently being developed for use in determining charged-particle decay branching ratios from discrete states. The present status of data analysis and detector development will be discussed, as well as future plans.