{
  "abstract": "The $^{18}$F($α,p$)$^{21}$Ne reaction may impact Asymptotic Giant Branch nucleosynthesis and helium burning on accreting white dwarfs. This reaction has never been directly measured, and constraints from a previous time-inverse measurement leave large uncertainties in the reaction rate. We measured $^{18}$F($α,p$)$^{21}$Ne cross sections directly for the first time covering from $2 \\leq E_{cm} \\leq 4$ MeV. Combining these results with previous work and comparisons to statistical model calculations results in a substantial improvement in uncertainties in the reaction rate. Cross sections were measured in inverse kinematics at TRIUMF-ISAC using a radioactive $^{18}$F beam and ANASEN with an extended $^{4}$He gas target. Protons were detected in arrays of silicon-strip detectors with the measured trajectories and energies allowing reconstruction of the center-of-mass energy and final state in $^{21}$Ne populated. We found the total cross section is in good agreement with statistical calculations, though population of the second excited state in $^{21}$Ne is greater than predicted. This direct measurement is combined with the previous time-inverse measurement and a new reaction rate is calculated for 0.1--3 GK. The uncertainties in the $^{18}$F($α,p$)$^{21}$Ne reaction rate have been reduced to a sufficient level to allow robust predictions from AGB models. The new recommended rate leads to a 45\\% increase in $^{19}$F production compared to the previous rate.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [],
  "article_type": null,
  "arxiv": "2609.06286",
  "author_total": 24,
  "authors": [
    {
      "name": "K. S. Davis"
    },
    {
      "name": "J. C. Blackmon"
    },
    {
      "name": "C. M. Deibel"
    },
    {
      "name": "G. L. Wilson"
    },
    {
      "name": "M. Alcorta"
    },
    {
      "name": "L. T. Baby"
    },
    {
      "name": "D. W. Bardayan"
    },
    {
      "name": "S. Carmichael"
    },
    {
      "name": "S. Chakraborty"
    },
    {
      "name": "C. Esparza"
    },
    {
      "name": "J. Glorius"
    },
    {
      "name": "A. I. Karakas"
    },
    {
      "name": "A. Lennarz"
    },
    {
      "name": "B. Kay"
    },
    {
      "name": "J. Henning"
    },
    {
      "name": "G. W. McCann"
    },
    {
      "name": "S. Pain"
    },
    {
      "name": "C. Ruiz"
    },
    {
      "name": "R. Russell"
    },
    {
      "name": "V. Sitaraman"
    },
    {
      "name": "B. Sudarsan"
    },
    {
      "name": "I. Tolstukhin"
    },
    {
      "name": "L. Wagner"
    },
    {
      "name": "I. Wiedenhöver"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/ehfd7emsr7n1n.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.48550/arxiv.2609.06286",
  "fulltext_url": null,
  "id": "ehfd7emsr7n1n",
  "issns": [],
  "landing_url": "https://arxiv.org/abs/2609.06286",
  "language": null,
  "licence": "CC-BY-4.0",
  "licence_label": "CC BY 4.0",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": "CC0-1.0",
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "arxiv",
      "nucl-ex"
    ],
    [
      "openalex",
      "3106|Nuclear physics research studies"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7212074980",
  "pdf_url": "https://arxiv.org/pdf/2609.06286",
  "pmcid": null,
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-09-05",
  "publisher": null,
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/ehfd7emsr7n1n.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:19:48Z",
      "native_id": "2609.06286",
      "source": "arxiv",
      "url": "https://arxiv.org/abs/2609.06286"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "physics",
      "origin": "arxiv:nucl-ex",
      "subfield": "nuclear"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Direct measurement of $^{18}$F($α,p$)$^{21}$Ne cross sections with ANASEN",
  "title_text": "Direct measurement of ^18F(α,p)^21Ne cross sections with ANASEN",
  "type": "preprint",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:19:48Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/ehfd7emsr7n1n",
  "venue": "arXiv",
  "versions": []
}