The reaction branching 31P(p, γ)/31P(p, α) in the RP-process

The reactions ^(31)P(p, γ)^(32)S and ^(31)P(p, α)^(28)Si have been studied in the energy range 280–620 keV to investigate the influence of low-energy resonances on the stellar reaction rates. Several new resonances have been observed and the resonance strengths for both reaction channels have been determined. The reaction rates have been calculated from the present results and are compared with the results of Hauser-Feshbach calculations.