Radioactive Ion Beams for Studying Astrophysical Nuclear Reactions

Beams of radioactive ions can be produced as secondary beams following the interaction of conventional accelerator beams with suitable targets. For example we have used beams of 7Li and 12C from an EN Tandem Van de Graaff accelerator to produce beams of 7Be and 13N via the (p, n) and (d, n) reactions respectively. These beams are focused by a system of magnetic quadrupole lenses to a secondary target. Reactions of such nuclides, especially proton capture and (p, c) reactions, are of interest in solar physics and in the CNO multi-cycle in massive stars. Progress toward the measurement of these reactions is discussed.