Status on $\mathbf{{}^{12}{\rm C}+{}^{12}{\rm C}}$ fusion at deep subbarrier energies: impact of resonances on astrophysical $S^{*}$ factors

Abstract

Since the discovery of molecular resonances in $^{12}$C+$^{12}$C in the early sixties a great deal of research work has been undertaken to study $\alpha$-clustering and resonant effects of the fusion process at sub-Coulomb barrier energies. The modified astrophysical $S^{*}$ factors of $^{12}$C+$^{12}$C fusion have been extracted from direct fusion measurements at deep sub-barrier energies near the Gamow window. They were also obtained by the indirect Trojan horse method (THM). A comparison of direct measurements and the THM, which elucidates problems in the analysis of the THM, is discussed in this Letter to the Editor.