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Classical-Nova Contribution to the Milky Way’s Al26 Abundance: Exit Channel of the Key Al25(p,γ)Si26 Resonance

Year: 2013

Type: article

Abstract: Classical novae are expected to contribute to the 1809-keV Galactic $\ensuremath{\gamma}$-ray emission by producing its precursor $^{26}\mathrm{Al}$, but the yield depends on the thermonuclear rate of the unmeasured $^{25}\mathrm{Al}(p,\ensuremath{\gamma})^{26}\mathrm{Si}$ reaction. Using the $\ensuremath{\beta}$ decay of $^{26}\mathrm{P}$ to populate the key ${J}^{\ensuremath{\pi}}={3}^{+}$ resonance in this reaction, we report the first evidence for the observation of its exit channel via a $1741.6\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.6(\mathrm{stat})\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.3(\mathrm{syst})\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{keV}$ primary $\ensuremath{\gamma}$ ray, where the uncertainties are statistical and systematic, respectively. By combining the measured $\ensuremath{\gamma}$-ray energy and intensity with other experimental data on $^{26}\mathrm{Si}$, we find the center-of-mass energy and strength of the resonance to be ${E}_{r}=414.9\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.6(\mathrm{stat})\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.3(\mathrm{syst})\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.6(\mathrm{lit}.)\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{keV}$ and $\ensuremath{\omega}\ensuremath{\gamma}=23\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}6(\mathrm{stat}{)}_{\ensuremath{-}10}^{+11}(\mathrm{lit}.)\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{meV}$, respectively, where the last uncertainties are from adopted literature data. We use hydrodynamic nova simulations to model $^{26}\mathrm{Al}$ production showing that these measurements effectively eliminate the dominant experimental nuclear-physics uncertainty and we estimate that novae may contribute up to 30% of the Galactic $^{26}\mathrm{Al}$.

Source: Physical Review Letters

DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.111.232503