Neutron Catalysis of Resonance Fusion in Stellar Matter

Abstract

Within the framework of resonance fusion study in stellar matter the features of system consisted of two alpha particles and one neutron have been investigated at astrophysical energies. Consideration of three body scattering has been carried out on base of well-known Faddeev's equations. It is found that under certain conditions the series of resonance states appear in this system at very low energies. The lifetimes of these three body resonances are close to the lifetime of unstable nucleus 8Be. The simple forms of two body repulsive potentials are taken into account to describe the parameters of the alpha, alpha resonance and to satisfy n, alpha scattering data at very low energies. The explanation of resonance phenomena in n, alpha, alpha system is offered on base of physical model. The effect results from resonance quantum phenomena in few body dynamics. In turn, the resonance fusion can give influence on many astrophysical phenomena. The possibility of catalyzing this new mode of fusion by free neutrons in alpha particle matter is considered too.