Reaction Rates in the RP-Process and Nucleosynthesis in Novae

1986

Nuclear structure information available on proton rich unstable nuclei were used to evaluate thermonuclear reaction rates in the rp-process in explosive hydrogen burning. These rates were applied in a systematic analysis for a variety of temperature conditions, appropriate to nova explosions, to study nucleosynthesis for isotopes of Ne Na Mg Al Si. The results are discussed in comparison with recent observations of elemental abundances in nova ejecta.