Nuclear astrophysics and neutron induced reactions: Quasi-free reactions and RIBs

Abstract

The use of quasifree reactions in studying nuclear reactions between charged particles of astrophysical interest has received much attention over the last two decades. The Trojan Horse Method is based on this approach and it has been used to study a number of reactions relevant for Nuclear Astrophysics. Recently we applied this method to the study of nuclear reactions that involve radioactive species, namely to the study of the 18F+p→ 15O+α? process at temperatures corresponding to the energies available in the classical novae scenario. Quasifree reactions can also be exploited to study processes induced by neutrons. This technique is particularly interesting when applied to reaction induced by neutrons on unstable shortlived nuclei. Such processes are very important in the nucleosynthesis of elements in the sand rprocesses scenarios and this technique can give hints for solving key questions in nuclear astrophysics where direct measurements are practically impossible. © 2010 American Institute of Physics.