Benchmarking the (d,p) reaction for obtaining (p,γ) rates for N=Z nuclei*

Radiative capture rates via low-lying proton resonances are of astrophysical interest in both stellar and explosive burning scenarios, but are difficult to measure directly due to the small proton widths. The (d,p) reaction can be used to determine energies, J^π assignments, and spectroscopic factors of the mirror neutron states in the conjugate nucleus.  Guided by Shell Model Embedded in the Continuum calculations, (p,γ) rates can be calculated. This technique is especially applicable to capture on self-conjugate (N=Z) nuclei, as the ground state of the "target" nucleus is common to both systems; several such nuclei are of particular astrophysical interest, including ²⁶Al, ³⁰P, ³⁴Cl and ³⁸K. We have benchmarked resonance strengths extracted from ²⁶Al(d,p) against direct ²⁶Al(p,γ) measurements for several resonances, guided by analysis of almost 30 bound states and elastic scattering differential cross sections. The results, and its implications for upcoming measurements on other N=Z nuclei at the ATLAS facility at ANL and the ReA3 facility at the NSCL, will be presented.