Prediction of 144Sm(α,γ)148Gd reaction rates in the statistical model

Complete text of publication follows. The largest uncertainties in the calculation of cross sections and reaction rates for the reaction 144Sm(α,γ)148Gd stem from the optical potential employed for determining the transmission coefficients in the α-channel. We presented a new calculation of the reaction rates for the capture reaction 144Sm(α,γ)148Gd, utilizing an α+144Sm potential derived from most recent α-scattering data. The new rate seems to be in reasonable agreement with preliminary data from the currently performed 144Sm(α,γ)148Gd experiment. This experiment showed a discrepancy of a factor of 3-4 between experimental cross sections and those calculated in the (global) statistical model with a global α-potential. This underlines that after showing that neutron and proton global optical potentials and improved level densities give fully satisfactory results, the remaining task astrophysical applications is the determination of an accurate global α-potential