Binary Reaction Rates

Stellar nuclear reaction rates (in cm³ mole^-1 s^-1) for binary reactions in the form of target + incident particle = ejectile + product, or I(j,k)L, are tabulated at 14 values of temperature: T9=0.03, 0.05, 0.1, 0.3, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 2.5, 3.0, 4.0, 5.0, 7.0, and 10 (where T9=1.0E+09 degrees Kelvin). The interacting particles are neutrons (n), protons (p), alpha-particles (a), and photons (g). The density dependence for all reaction channels is set to unity. The isotopic range of nuclei for which reaction rates are given is provided in the bibliography.

For each isotope listed, reaction rates for twelve possible reaction channels (six "Forward", and six "Reverse") are given. A "Forward rate" increases the charge and/or the atomic number of the target nucleus. The forward reaction channels are (n,g), (p,n), (p,g), (a,p), (a,n), and (a,g).

A "Reverse" rate reduces either the charge and/or the atomic number of the target nucleus, they are the inverses of the "Forward" rates. These channels are (g,n), (n,p), (g,p), (p,a), (n,a), and (g,a), respectively.

A reaction rate of "0." indicates that no reaction rate is available for the specific channel, or that the temperature was so low the rate was zero. For information on which channels have reaction rates, see the bibliography.

How to Read The Binary Reaction Tables

As an example of a "Forward Rate", consider the reaction ¹²C(a,g)¹⁶O. To find the forward rate, choose the row in the table corresponding to the isotope (target or product) with the lowest Z value (¹²C), then move over to the value listed under the column labeled (a,g). The choice of the correct row for a reaction given in terms of a "Forward Rate" will be given by the target nucleus.

The corresponding inverse reaction ¹⁶O(g,a)¹²C, is found by choosing the isotope with the lowest Z value (¹²C), and moving over to the value listed under column (g,a).

The appropriate inverse rate for any reaction given in terms of a "Forward Rate" will be the number directly to the right of its "Forward Rate".


As an example of a reaction given in terms of a "Reverse Rate", consider the reaction ⁴¹K(p,a)³⁸Ar. This rate is found by choosing the row corresponding to the isotope (target or product) with the lowest Z value (³⁸Ar), and moving over to the value listed under the column labeled (p,a). The corresponding forward (inverse) rate, ³⁸Ar(a,p)⁴¹K, will be found on the same row (³⁸Ar, the lowest Z in the reaction), to the left of the reverse rate, under column (a,p).