• DOI:10.1103/PhysRevC.79.045802
• Corpus ID: 119212384

Impact of uncertainties in reaction Q values on nucleosynthesis in type I x-ray bursts

@article{Parikh2009ImpactOU,
  title={Impact of uncertainties in reaction Q values on nucleosynthesis in type I x-ray bursts},
  author={A. S. Parikh and Jordi Jos{\'e} and Christian Iliadis and Ferm{\'i}n Moreno and Thomas Rauscher},
  journal={Physical Review C},
  year={2009},
  volume={79},
  pages={045802}
}

• A. Parikh, J. José, +2 authors T. Rauscher
• Published 5 November 2008
• Physics
• Physical Review C

Nucleosynthesis in type I X-ray bursts may involve up to several thousand nuclear processes. The majority of these processes have only been determined theoretically due to the lack of sufficient experimental information. Accurate reaction $Q$-values are essential for reliable theoretical estimates of reaction rates. Those reactions with small $Q$-values ($l1$ MeV) are of particular interest in these environments as they may represent waiting points for a continuous abundance flow toward heavier-mass nuclei. To explore the nature of these waiting points, we have performed a comprehensive series of post-processing calculations which examine the sensitivity of nucleosynthesis in type I X-ray bursts to uncertainties in reaction $Q$-values. We discuss and list the relatively few critical masses for which measurements could better constrain the results of our studies. In particular, we stress the importance of measuring the mass of $^{65}\mathrm{As}$ to obtain an experimental $Q$-value for the $^{64}\mathrm{Ge}(p,\ensuremath{\gamma})^{65}\mathrm{As}$ reaction.