78th Annual Meeting of the Southeastern Section of the APS
Volume 56, Number 9
Wednesday–Saturday, October 19–22, 2011;
Roanoke, Virginia
Session CA: Recent Progress in Nuclear Astrophysics
10:45 AM–12:45 PM,
Thursday, October 20, 2011
Room: Crystal Ballroom A
Chair: Jonathan Link, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Abstract ID: BAPS.2011.SES.CA.3
Abstract: CA.00003 : Exploring the Cosmos from the Ground: Nuclear Astrophysics at UNC/TUNL
11:45 AM–12:15 PM
Preview Abstract
Abstract
Author:
A.L. Sallaska
(UNC/TUNL)
Nuclear astrophysics is an inherently interdisciplinary field
encompassing observational astronomy, astrophysical modeling, and
measurements of thermonuclear reaction rates. In general, a group
studies only one of these branches in depth; however, the unique
nuclear astrophysics group at University of North
Carolina--Chapel Hill and Triangle Universities Nuclear
Laboratory (TUNL) incorporates both theoretical and experimental
research. Currently focusing on nuclear reaction measurements
involved in thermonuclear explosions and heavy-element synthesis,
the Laboratory for Experimental Nuclear Astrophysics (LENA)
utilizes two accelerators with an energy range of $\sim50-1000$
keV and current up to $\sim$1.5 mA to measure proton fusion with
various targets. Recent and on-going measurements include
$^{23}$Na$(p,\gamma)^{24}$Mg, $^{14}$N$(p,\gamma)^{15}$O, and
$^{17,18}$O$(p,\gamma)^{18,19}$F. Our group has also formulated a
new Monte Carlo method for calculating thermonuclear reaction
rates from experimental results (such as resonance strengths), in
which a rigorous statistical definition of uncertainties arises
naturally. These rates provide a backbone for a new type of
stellar reaction rate library currently in preparation, STARLIB.
This library attempts to bridge the gap between experimental
nuclear physics data and stellar modelers by providing a
convenient tabular format with reliable uncertainties for use in
simulating astrophysical phenomena. We expect to submit STARLIB
for publication by year's end, which will coincide with the
unveiling of a webpage for ease of dissemination and updating.
Finally, our group uses this library to run simplified models of
astrophysical events, such as novae or AGB stars, via network
calculations. The results from these models indicate which
reactions significantly influence various isotopic abundances,
thus providing motivation for new reactions to measure at LENA
and other laboratories.
To cite this abstract, use the following reference: http://meetings.aps.org/link/BAPS.2011.SES.CA.3