Abstract
The reaction regulates the rate of energy generation in the stellar CN cycle. Because discrepancies have been found in the analysis and interpretation of previous capture data, we have measured the excitation function for energies in the range . Fits of these data using -matrix theory yield a value for the factor at zero energy of , which is significantly smaller than the previous result. The corresponding reduction in the stellar reaction rate for has a number of interesting consequences, including an impact on estimates for the age of the Galaxy derived from globular clusters.
- Received 23 March 2004
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.94.082503
©2005 American Physical Society