The astrophysical implications of low-energy resonances in 22Ne + α

Abstract The 22 Ne( 6 Li, d) α-transfer reaction has been used to search for α-unbound levels in 26 Mg of importance for resonant α-capture on 22 Ne in stellar helium burning. To determine the resonance strengths of the observed states the 22 Ne(α, n) 25 Mg reaction was investigated in the energy range between 600 and 900 keV. One resonance was identified and its strength determined. The astrophysical implications of the present results are discussed.