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.
    
    Read
- In Collections
 - 
    Electronic Theses & Dissertations
                    
 
- Copyright Status
 - In Copyright
 
- Material Type
 - 
    Theses
                    
 
- Authors
 - 
    Glassman, Brent
                    
 
- Thesis Advisors
 - 
    Wrede, Chris
                    
 
- Committee Members
 - 
    Spyrou, Artemis
                    
Hergert, Heiko
Linnemann, Jim
Iwasaki, Hironori
Wrede, Chris
 
- Date Published
 - 
    2020
                    
 
- Program of Study
 - 
    Physics - Doctor of Philosophy
                    
 
- Degree Level
 - 
    Doctoral
                    
 
- Language
 - 
    English
                    
 
- Pages
 - xviii, 122 pages
 
- ISBN
 - 
    9781658420747
                    
1658420748
 
- Permalink
 - https://doi.org/doi:10.25335/kxtd-qy85