159 research outputs found
Multi-channel R-matrix analysis of CNO cycle reactions
The CNO cycle is the main process for hydrogen burning in stars somewhat more massive than the Sun. The reaction cross sections at Gamow energies are typically in the femto to pico-barn range and are consequently very difficult to measure experimentally. The CNO reaction rates are based on extrapolations of experimental data from higher energies. We are developing a multi-channel R-matrix code (AZURE) to provide a new and more comprehensive tool for fitting experimental data and making extrapolations to lower energies in all reaction and scattering channels. The 14N(p,Îł )15O reaction is the slowest reaction of the CNO cycle and thus it determines the energy production rate of CNO burning. Furthermore, this reaction plays an important role in the determination of Globular Cluster age, since the position of the turnoff point, at which the GC stars escape from the Main Sequence, is powered by the onset of the CNO burning, whose bottleneck is the 14N(p, Îł )15O. We have made a reanalysis of the most recent experimental data on the ground state and the 6.18 MeV transitions. The ratio of the cross sections of the 15N(p, Îł )16O and 15N(p,α)12C reactions determines how much catalytic material passes to higher CNO cycles and has an effect on the production of heavier elements, particularly 16O and 17O. Simultaneous analysis of both reactions for all channels suggests that the ratio ÏÎł/Ïα is smaller than previously reported
Measurement of the resonance at ER=1422 keV in Ar36(p,Îł)37K
A new resonance at ER=1422 keV has been found in the reaction Ar36(p,Îł)37K. From its measured resonance strength of ÏÎł=(6.0±1.5)Ă10-4 eV the proton partial width Îp can be calculated. Our data suggest a value of ÎÎł/Îp40 for the ratio of Îł to proton partial width for the corresponding state at Ex=3241 keV in K37. We find that the corrected distribution of Gamow-Teller strength below the isobaric analog state as obtained from the ÎČ-delayed proton decay of Ca37 is in agreement with the results inferred from the Cl37(p,n)37Ar reaction
Uncertainty contributions to low-flow projections in Austria
The main objective of the paper is to understand the
contributions to the uncertainty in low-flow projections resulting from
hydrological model uncertainty and climate projection uncertainty. Model
uncertainty is quantified by different parameterisations of a conceptual
semi-distributed hydrologic model (TUWmodel) using 11 objective functions in
three different decades (1976–1986, 1987–1997, 1998–2008), which allows for disentangling the effect of the objective function-related uncertainty and temporal stability of model parameters. Climate projection uncertainty is
quantified by four future climate scenarios (ECHAM5-A1B, A2, B1 and
HADCM3-A1B) using a delta change approach. The approach is tested for 262
basins in Austria.
The results indicate that the seasonality of the low-flow regime is an
important factor affecting the performance of model calibration in the
reference period and the uncertainty of Q95 low-flow projections in the
future period. In Austria, the range of simulated Q95 in the reference
period is larger in basins with a summer low-flow regime than in basins with
a winter low-flow regime. The accuracy of simulated Q95 may result in a
range of up to 60 % depending on the decade used for calibration.
The low-flow projections of Q95 show an increase of low flows in the
Alps, typically in the range of 10â30âŻ% and a decrease in the
south-eastern part of Austria mostly in the range −5 to −20âŻ% for the
climate change projected for the future period 2021–2050, relative the reference
period 1978–2007. The change in seasonality varies between scenarios, but
there is a tendency for earlier low flows in the northern Alps and later low
flows in eastern Austria. The total uncertainty of Q95 projections is
the largest in basins with a winter low-flow regime and, in some basins the
range of Q95 projections exceeds 60 %. In basins with summer low flows, the total uncertainty is mostly less than 20 %. The ANOVA
assessment of the relative contribution of the three main variance components
(i.e. climate scenario, decade used for model calibration and calibration
variant representing different objective function) to the low-flow projection
uncertainty shows that in basins with summer low flows climate scenarios
contribute more than 75 % to the total projection uncertainty. In basins
with a winter low-flow regime, the median contribution of climate scenario,
decade and objective function is 29, 13 and 13 %,
respectively. The implications of the uncertainties identified in this paper
for water resource management are discussed
Integrated impact modelling of climate change and adaptation policies on land use and water resources in Austria"
Climate change is a major driver of land use and ecosystems. Changes in climatic conditions will affect the quality and quantity of water resources. Autonomous adaptation by farmers can influence the compliance with the good ecological and chemical status according to the EU Water Framework Directive. We present results from an integrated impact modelling framework (IIMF) to analyze policy options for planned adaptation in agricultural land use and sustainable management of land and water resources until 2040. The IIMF consists of the bio-physical process model EPIC, the regional land use optimization model PASMA[grid], the quantitative precipitation/runoff TUW model, and the surface water emission model MONERIS. Stakeholder driven scenarios facilitate multi-actor knowledge transfer. Climate change scenarios are combined with socio-economic and policy pathways. The latter include water protection measures on fertilization management, soil and crop rotation management. The results show that the selected climate change and policy scenarios impact average agricultural gross margins by ±2%. However, regional impacts are more severe particularly under assumptions of decreasing precipitation patterns. The water protection policies can alleviate pressures compared to the business as usual scenario but do not lead to sufficient conditions in all watersheds. To conclude, the IIMF is able to capture the interfaces between water quality and land use and to cover multiple policy and climate scenarios. However, despite efforts to increase the robustness of data and model interfaces, uncertainties need to be tackled in subsequent studies
Measurement of 25Mg(p; gamma)26Al resonance strengths via gamma spectrometry
The COMPTEL instrument performed the first mapping of the 1.809 MeV photons
in the Galaxy, triggering considerable interest in determing the sources of
interstellar 26Al. The predicted 26Al is too low compared to the observation,
for a better understanding more accurate rates for the 25Mg(p; gamma)26Al
reaction are required. The 25Mg(p;gamma)26Al reaction has been investigated at
the resonances at Er= 745; 418; 374; 304 keV at Ruhr-Universitat-Bochum using a
Tandem accelerator and a 4piNaI detector. In addition the resonance at Er = 189
keV has been measured deep underground laboratory at Laboratori Nazionali del
Gran Sasso, exploiting the strong suppression of cosmic background. This low
resonance has been studied with the 400 kV LUNA accelerator and a HPGe
detector. The preliminary results of the resonance strengths will be reported.Comment: Accepted for publication in Journal of Physics
The multifaith campus: Transforming colleges and universities for spiritual engagement
Dafina Lazarus Stewart, Michael M. Kocet, and Sharon Lobdell explore what college and university campuses would look like if transformed to promote and sustain religious and secular pluralism and interfaith cooperation.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/83741/1/20049_ftp.pd
The Cross Section of 3He(3He,2p)4He measured at Solar Energies
We report on the results of the \hethet\ experiment at the underground
accelerator facility LUNA (Gran Sasso). For the first time the lowest
projectile energies utilized for the cross section measurement correspond to
energies below the center of the solar Gamow peak (=22 keV). The
data provide no evidence for the existence of a hypothetical resonance in the
energy range investigated. Although no extrapolation is needed anymore (except
for energies at the low-energy tail of the Gamow peak), the data must be
corrected for the effects of electron screening, clearly observed the first
time for the \hethet\ reaction. The effects are however larger than expected
and not understood, leading presently to the largest uncertainty on the quoted
value for bare nuclides (=5.40 MeV b).Comment: 18 pages, 10 postscript figures, Calculations concerning hypothetical
resonanz added, Submitted to Phys. Rev. C., available at this URL:
HTTP://www.lngs.infn.it/lngs/htexts/luna/luna.htm
Constraining the S factor of 15N(p,g)16O at Astrophysical Energies
The 15N(p,g)16O reaction represents a break out reaction linking the first
and second cycle of the CNO cycles redistributing the carbon and nitrogen
abundances into the oxygen range. The reaction is dominated by two broad
resonances at Ep = 338 keV and 1028 keV and a Direct Capture contribution to
the ground state of 16O. Interference effects between these contributions in
both the low energy region (Ep < 338 keV) and in between the two resonances
(338 <Ep < 1028 keV) can dramatically effect the extrapolation to energies of
astrophysical interest. To facilitate a reliable extrapolation the 15N(p,g)16O
reaction has been remeasured covering the energy range from Ep=1800 keV down to
130 keV. The results have been analyzed in the framework of a multi-level
R-matrix theory and a S(0) value of 39.6 keV b has been found.Comment: 15 pages, 9 figure
First measurement of the 14N(p,gamma)15O cross section down to 70 keV
In stars with temperatures above 20*10^6 K, hydrogen burning is dominated by
the CNO cycle. Its rate is determined by the slowest process, the
14N(p,gamma)15O reaction. Deep underground in Italy's Gran Sasso laboratory, at
the LUNA 400 kV accelerator, the cross section of this reaction has been
measured at energies much lower than ever achieved before. Using a windowless
gas target and a 4pi BGO summing detector, direct cross section data has been
obtained down to 70 keV, reaching a value of 0.24 picobarn. The Gamow peak has
been covered by experimental data for several scenarios of stable and explosive
hydrogen burning. In addition, the strength of the 259 keV resonance has been
remeasured. The thermonuclear reaction rate has been calculated for
temperatures 90 - 300 *10^6 K, for the first time with negligible impact from
extrapolations
Theoretical Evaluation of the Reaction Rates for 26Al(n,p)26Mg and 26Al(n,a)23Na
The reactions that destroy 26Al in massive stars have significance in a
number of astrophysical contexts. We evaluate the reaction rates of
26Al(n,p)26Mg and 26Al(n,a)23Na using cross sections obtained from the codes
EMPIRE and TALYS. These have been compared to the published rates obtained from
the non-smoker code and to some experimental data. We show that the results
obtained from EMPIRE and TALYS are comparable to those from non-smoker. We also
show how the theoretical results vary with respect to changes in the input
parameters. Finally, we present recommended rates for these reactions using the
available experimental data and our new theoretical results
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