New Fe59 Stellar Decay Rate with Implications for the Fe60 Radioactivity in Massive Stars

B. Gao et al.
Phys. Rev. Lett. 126, 152701 – Published 12 April 2021

Abstract

The discrepancy between observations from γ-ray astronomy of the Fe60/Al26 γ-ray flux ratio and recent calculations is an unresolved puzzle in nuclear astrophysics. The stellar β-decay rate of Fe59 is one of the major nuclear uncertainties impeding us from a precise prediction. The important Gamow-Teller strengths from the low-lying states in Fe59 to the Co59 ground state are measured for the first time using the exclusive measurement of the Co59(t,He3+γ)Fe59 charge-exchange reaction. The new stellar decay rate of Fe59 is a factor of 3.5±1.1 larger than the currently adopted rate at T=1.2GK. Stellar evolution calculations show that the Fe60 production yield of an 18 solar mass star is decreased significantly by 40% when using the new rate. Our result eliminates one of the major nuclear uncertainties in the predicted yield of Fe60 and alleviates the existing discrepancy of the Fe60/Al26 ratio.

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  • Received 22 December 2020
  • Revised 20 February 2021
  • Accepted 17 March 2021

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.126.152701

© 2021 American Physical Society

Physics Subject Headings (PhySH)

Nuclear Physics

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Vol. 126, Iss. 15 — 16 April 2021

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