Improved information on the ${}^2\mathrm{H}{(}^6\mathrm{Li},\alpha {)}^4\mathrm{He}$ reaction extracted via the “Trojan horse” method

We have studied the ${}^2\mathrm{H}{(}^6\mathrm{Li},\alpha {)}^4\mathrm{He}$ two-body reaction by applying the “Trojan horse” method (THM) to the ${}^6\mathrm{Li}{(}^6\mathrm{Li},\alpha \alpha {)}^4\mathrm{He}$ three-body reaction. The astrophysical $S\left(E\right)\mathrm{}$ factor has been extracted in the energy range between 10–800 keV for the two cases of target and projectile quasifree break-up. We found good agreement between the two data sets leading an improved determination of the $S\left(E\right)\mathrm{}$ with $S\left(0\right)=16.9\mathrm{}\pm 0.5\hspace{0.5em}\mathrm{MeV}\mathrm{b}.$ Furthermore, the electron screening potential energy $U_e=320\mathrm{}\pm 50$ eV has been extracted in a model-independent way by comparing direct and THM data. This value is significantly higher than the value predicted by current theoretical models.