The 6Li(22Ne, 26Mg)d α-transfer experiment for the study of low-energy resonances in 22Ne(α, γ)26Mg

Abstract

While the reaction 22Ne(α,n)25Mg is considered an important neutron source for the s process in massive stars, the competing 22Ne(α,γ)26Mg reaction may be of considerable strength and could significantly suppress the neutron production. For a better understanding of this neutron source, the branching ratio of n and γ partial widths (Γn, Γγ) and spectroscopic information such as energies and spins of 26Mg resonance states within the Gamow window (Eα = 400-1000 keV) should be experimentally determined with improved accuracy. In the present work, we propose to use the 6Li(22Ne, 26Mg)d α-transfer reaction to investigate those resonance parameters and have tested the feasibility of the experiment. © Owned by the authors, published by EDP Sciences, 2014.