²⁰Mg beta decay and the ¹⁵O(alpha, gamma)¹⁹Ne(p, gamma)²⁰Na reaction sequence in Type I x-ray bursts
Constraining the ¹⁵O(alpha, gamma)¹⁹Ne(p, gamma)²⁰Na reaction rate is critically important for accurately simulating x-ray burst light curves, our only x-ray burst observable from Earth. Both the ¹⁵O(alpha, gamma)¹⁹Ne(p, gamma) and )¹⁹Ne(p, gamma)²⁰Na reaction rates have been studied using a multitude of experimental techniques, yet only upper limits had been determined at the outset of the present work. The ¹⁵O(alpha, gamma)¹⁹Ne(p, gamma) reaction in particular has been singled out as the most important reaction rate of all currently unknown rates to measure. Utilizing the beta decay of ²⁰Mg to populate ²⁰Na excited states, we further constrain the ¹⁹Ne(p,gamma)²⁰Na reaction rate by searching for gamma decays from the most important resonance at E_x=2647 keV. Additionally, by populating ²⁰Na excited states high above the proton threshold, we populate the most important ¹⁹Ne resonance for measuring the ¹⁵O(alpha, gamma)¹⁹Ne(p, gamma) reaction rate at E_x=4.03 MeV. Herein, the results of this study are reported including: The full ²⁰Mg beta-delayed gamma ray spectrum and decay scheme; the upper limit on the beta decay feeding of the ²⁰Na 2647 keV state; the Doppler broadening analysis of nine gamma ray peaks from six excited states in ¹⁹Ne; the intensity of ²⁰Mg(beta,p,gamma) to the 4.03 MeV state in ¹⁹Ne; the measurement of the ²⁰Na excitation energy at 7.44 {+0.25_{-0.22 MeV feeding the 4.03 MeV state in ¹⁹Ne; and the measurement of the center of mass proton energy for the feeding of the important 4.03 MeV state in ¹⁹Ne at 1.23 {+0.25_{-0.22 MeV.
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- In Collections
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Electronic Theses & Dissertations
- Copyright Status
- In Copyright
- Material Type
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Theses
- Authors
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Glassman, Brent
- Thesis Advisors
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Wrede, Chris
- Committee Members
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Spyrou, Artemis
Hergert, Heiko
Linnemann, Jim
Iwasaki, Hironori
Wrede, Chris
- Date Published
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2020
- Program of Study
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Physics - Doctor of Philosophy
- Degree Level
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Doctoral
- Language
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English
- Pages
- xviii, 122 pages
- ISBN
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9781658420747
1658420748
- Permalink
- https://doi.org/doi:10.25335/kxtd-qy85