Studying $^{20}$Ne($\alpha$,p)$^{23}$Na directly with HELIOS

During nucleosynthesis ($\alpha$,p) reactions are important in a variety of astrophysical sites, including classical novae, X-ray bursts and supernovae. Direct measurements of these reaction rates are needed to reduce uncertainties and understand the nucleosynthesis in these stellar sites. Sensitivity studies indicate that the $^{20}$Ne($\alpha$,p)$^{23}$Na reaction contributes significantly to the energy output and nucleosynthesis abundances produced in Type Ia supernovae. Recently we performed a direct experimental study of the $^{20}$Ne($\alpha$,p)$^{23}$Na reaction with the HELIcal Orbit Spectrometer (HELIOS) at Argonne National Laboratory. A cryogenic gas target was implemented to produce a high-density $^{4}$He gas target and the heavy recoils were detected with a high counting rate gas ionization chamber in coincidence with the protons, which were detected in the HELIOS Si array. The reaction was measured through inverse kinematics with $^{20}$Ne beams at multiple energies. Promising results have been achieved. This experiment also serves as a stable beam proof-of-principle study for future direct measurements of other ($\alpha$,p) reactions using radioactive beam. Preliminary analysis will be presented.