Electronic effects in astrophysically relevant nuclear reactions

Our present understanding of electronic effects in nuclear reactions at low energies as well as the corresponding investigations are reviewed. The difference between the laboratory situation and nuclear reactions in a stellar environment is discussed. The phenomena generated by the presence of electrons are classified in two groups, the statical and the dynamical electronic effects. For both the current status of the theoretical description is presented. In particular the effect of angular momentum transfer between electronic and nuclear motion has been considered for reactions at astrophysically relevant energies.