Nuclear astrophysics at the Holifield Radioactive Ion Beam Facility

Novae, supernovae, and X-ray bursts are spectacular stellar explosions which produce the majority of heavy elements, and which are among the most energetic explosions in the Universe. The potential for understanding these catastrophic astrophysical events will be greatly enhanced by a new development in nuclear physics: the availability of low-energy, high-intensity, accelerated beams of proton-rich radioactive nuclei. Such beams are currently being developed at the Holifield Radioactive Ion Beam Facility (HRIBF) at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. The authors plan to utilize these beams for absolute cross section measurements of crucial (p, γ) capture reactions in efforts to resolve the substantial qualitative uncertainties in current models of explosive stellar hydrogen burning outbursts. A dedicated experimental endstation is being constructed for these measurements, the core of which is the Daresbury Recoil Separator (DRS). The DRS will be used to detect the heavy recoils from proton capture reactions in inverse kinematics. Details of this nuclear astrophysics Program with the unique HRIBF radioactive beams will be presented