Potential resonant screening effects on stellar C12+C12 reaction rates

Abstract

The C12+C12 fusion cross sections show resonant behavior down to the lowest energies accessible so far in the laboratory. If this tendency continues into the astrophysical energy range, the stellar C12+C12 reaction rates have to be corrected for resonant screening effects, in addition to the conventional screening corrections. We estimate the resonant screening effects in the weak electron screening limit for hydrostatic burning and white dwarf environments.