Studying the Energy Levels of $^{39}$Ca for the $^{38}$K($p$,$\gamma$)$^{39}$Ca Reaction Rate

It has been established that nuclei up to $A=40$ are produced in nova explosions, but there exist discrepancies between theory and observation regarding their abundances. The $^{38}$K($p$,$\gamma$)$^{39}$Ca reaction rate has been identified as a large source of uncertainty at the endpoint of nova nucleosynthesis and could be key in understanding this discrepancy. To reduce its uncertainty, the $^{40}$Ca($^{3}$He,$\alpha$) $^{39}$Ca reaction was measured at Argonne National Laboratory using GODDESS (Gammasphere ORRUBA Dual Detectors for Experimental Structure Studies) to study the energy levels in $^{39}$Ca. $\gamma$ rays from the decay of excited states in $^{39}$Ca were measured in coincidence with alpha particles from the reaction. In total, 23 new $\gamma$-ray transitions were found in $^{39}$Ca, including new $\gamma$-decay information for three $J^\pi=5/2^+$ excited states that are important in the calculation of the reaction rate. These decay results, as well as how these results affect the reaction rate, will be presented.