Speaker
Description
Understanding stellar nucleosynthesis remains a forefront challenge in physics and relies on detailed knowledge of helium burning, whose pivotal triple-$\alpha$ and $^{12}\mathrm{C}(\alpha,\gamma)^{16}\mathrm{O}$ reactions set the carbon–oxygen balance in stars. This talk will present recently published precision data on the triple-$\alpha$ reaction and a new direct measurement of $^{12}\mathrm{C}(\alpha,\gamma)^{16}\mathrm{O}$ performed at iThemba LABS. Finally, it will introduce a framework for analysing direct-reaction data that treats sub-threshold states and resonances in a manner consistent with R-matrix scattering analyses. This enables more stringent tests of nuclear clustering and yields parameters that are more model-independent and comparable across different studies. These parameters may ultimately support improved constraints on astrophysical reaction rates.
