17O(p, ) 14N study at the LUNA accelerator

Hydrogen burning of 17O sensitively influences nucleosynthesis in a number of stellar sites, including red giants, asymptotic giant branch (AGB) stars, massive stars, and classical novae. In particular, the ratio between reaction rates of 17O(p, α ) 14N (Q=1.2 MeV) and 17O(p, γ ) 18F (Q=5.6 MeV) channels on 17O is one of the most important parameters for the galactic synthesis of 17O, the stellar production of radioactive 18F, and for predicted O isotopic ratios in premolar grains. Now the LUNA collaboration is preparing a new effort to study the (p, α ) channel on 17O at astrophysical energies. To reach this goal a new chamber has been constructed which allows to place 8 silicons detectors in backward directions. The setup improves the efficiency which is a crucial parameter in measuring nuclear reaction at such low energies. Aluminum foils are placed on the silicon in order to stop the elastic backscattered protons which otherwise produce non-negligible background on the silicons.