An Efficient Thick Target Method for Scanning Resonances of the ¹²C+¹²C Fusion at Stellar Energies

Abstract

The 12 C+ 12 C fusion reaction at stellar energies, which is known as carbon burning in stars, plays an important role in stellar evolution. The astrophysically important energy range spans roughly from 1 MeV to 3 MeV. The complication of molecular resonances in 12 C+ 12 C fusion brings significant uncertainties into the study of astrophysics. It is extremely difficult to measure the cross sections of 12 C+ 12 C fusions at energies of astrophysical relevance due to low yields, therefore, new technique is urgently needed. An efficient thick target method has been developed and applied for the first time to scan resonances of 12 C+ 12 C fusion at low energies 3.0 MeV<E c.m. <5.3 MeV. The cross sections could be scanned over a relatively wide range of energies using only a single beam energy. This method would be useful for searching and confirming resonances of 12 C+ 12 C within the Gamow window.