Search for Na-22 in novae supported by a novel method for measuring femtosecond nuclear lifetimes



Fougeres, Chloe, Santos, Francois de Oliveira, Jose, Jordi, Michelagnoli, Caterina, Clement, Emmanuel, Kim, Yung Hee, Lemasson, Antoine, Guimaraes, Valdir, Barrientos, Diego, Bemmerer, Daniel
et al (show 52 more authors) (2023) Search for Na-22 in novae supported by a novel method for measuring femtosecond nuclear lifetimes. NATURE COMMUNICATIONS, 14 (1). 4536-. ISSN 2041-1723, 2041-1723

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Abstract

Classical novae are thermonuclear explosions in stellar binary systems, and important sources of <sup>26</sup>Al and <sup>22</sup>Na. While γ rays from the decay of the former radioisotope have been observed throughout the Galaxy, <sup>22</sup>Na remains untraceable. Its half-life (2.6 yr) would allow the observation of its 1.275 MeV γ-ray line from a cosmic source. However, the prediction of such an observation requires good knowledge of its nucleosynthesis. The <sup>22</sup>Na(p, γ)<sup>23</sup>Mg reaction remains the only source of large uncertainty about the amount of <sup>22</sup>Na ejected. Its rate is dominated by a single resonance on the short-lived state at 7785.0(7) keV in <sup>23</sup>Mg. Here, we propose a combined analysis of particle-particle correlations and velocity-difference profiles to measure femtosecond nuclear lifetimes. The application of this method to the study of the <sup>23</sup>Mg states, places strong limits on the amount of <sup>22</sup>Na produced in novae and constrains its detectability with future space-borne observatories.

Item Type: Article
Uncontrolled Keywords: 5106 Nuclear and Plasma Physics, 5110 Synchrotrons and Accelerators, 51 Physical Sciences
Divisions: Faculty of Science and Engineering > School of Physical Sciences
Depositing User: Symplectic Admin
Date Deposited: 02 Oct 2023 09:47
Last Modified: 06 Dec 2024 18:42
DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-40121-3
Related URLs:
URI: https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/id/eprint/3173265