Study of the ²⁰Ne(p, γ) reaction rate using the DRAGON recoil spectrometer and GRIFFIN γ-ray detectors

The 1.28 Mev gamma-ray released in the beta-decay of ²²Na may be observed after a nova event due to the 2.6 year half-life of ²²Na. The slowest reaction of the neon-sodium cycle is the ²⁰Ne(p,γ) reaction, which limits the production of ²²Na in nova explostion. The reaction rate is mainly determined by direct capture to a barely-bound 1/2⁺ state in ²¹Na. Located 7 keV below the ²⁰Ne+p threshold, this state is likely an excited halo state which could enhance the ²⁰Ne(p,γ) reaction rate. Our goal is to measure the reaction rate approaching the Gamow window. Very recently, the ²⁰Ne(p,γ) reaction was measured using the DRAGON recoil separator and six GRIFFIN HPGe detectors at TRIUMF at a center of mass energy of 550 keV. This talk will present results from this first run and plans for a second run early next spring.