Properties of states near 𝐸_𝑥 = 6 MeV in ¹⁸Ne through ¹⁷F +𝑝 scattering

The rate of energy production in the hot-CNO cycle and breakout to the rapid-proton capture process in Type I X-ray bursts is strongly related to the ¹⁴O⁡(𝛼,𝑝)⁢ ¹⁷F reaction rate. The properties of states in ¹⁸Ne near 𝐸_𝑥 = 6.1–6.3 MeV are important for understanding the ¹⁴O⁡(𝛼,𝑝)⁢¹⁷F reaction rate. In order to study ¹⁸Ne resonances around this energy region, the RESOLUT radioactive-ion beam facility at Florida State University was used to perform ¹⁷F⁡(𝑝,𝑝)⁢¹⁷F elastic scattering on a polypropylene target under inverse kinematics. Scattered protons were detected in a silicon-strip detector array while recoiling ¹⁷F ions were detected in coincidence in a gas ionization detector. An 𝑅-matrix analysis of measured cross sections was conducted along with a reanalysis of data from previous ¹⁷F +𝑝 measurements. All the data analyzed are well described by a consistent set of parameters with a 1⁻ assignment for a state at 6.14(1) MeV. A second comparable solution is also found with a 3⁻ assignment for the 6.14(1) MeV state. There is no conclusive evidence supporting one of the two solutions over the other. The rates of the ¹⁴O⁡(𝛼,p)⁢¹⁷F reaction that are determined from the two solutions differ by up to an order of magnitude.. Authors: Sudarsan, B. [Louisiana State University Baton Rouge, LA (United States); Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ (United States)] (ORCID:0000000262285043); Linhardt, L. E. [Louisiana State University Baton Rouge, LA (United States)]; Blackmon, J. C. [Louisiana State University Baton Rouge, LA (United States)] (ORCID:0009000308906405); Deibel, C. M. [Louisiana State University Baton Rouge, LA (United States)] (ORCID:0009000406561850); Gardiner, H. E. [Louisiana State University Baton Rouge, LA (United States); U.S. Department of Defense, Arlington, VA (United States)]. DOE Contract: FG02-93ER40773; FG02-96ER40989. Subjects: 6 ≤ A ≤ 19; Elastic scattering reactions; H & He induced nuclear reactions; Nuclear astrophysics; X ray bursts