New direct measurement of the ~6Li(p, γ)~7Be cross-section at LUNA

摘要

~6Li+p fusion reactions take part in primordial nucleosynthesis and in the early stages of stellar evolution, prior to the main sequence. While the 6Li(p,α)3He cross-section is relatively well known, the ~6Li(p,γ)~7Be reaction is much debated, especially since a recent observation of a broad resonance at center-of-mass energy of 195 keV. Such resonance would correspond to an excited state of 7Be which has neither been observed before, nor supported by theoretical models. In order to verify the existence of such resonance, a new study of the ~6Li(p,γ)~7Be and ~6Li(p,α)~3He reactions was performed by the LUNA Collaboration at Gran Sasso National Laboratories. The present work provides an overview of the LUNA experiment and a description of the setup and measurement strategy adopted for the ~6Li+p experimental campaign.