Experimental study of the {sup 56}Ni({sup 3}He,d){sup 57}Cu reaction in inverse kinematics

Measurements of ({sup 3}He,d) reactions can provide information on the proton widths of states that play a role in astrophysically important (p,{gamma}) reactions. We report on the first study of the ({sup 3}He,d) reaction in inverse kinematics with a {sup 56}Ni (T{sub 1/2}=6.1 d) ion beam. The Q-value resolution of {approx} keV achieved in this experiment was sufficient to separate the transitions populating the ground state and the 1/2{sup -}-5/2{sup -} doublet at E{sub x}{approx}1.1 MeV in {sup 57}Cu. Prospects for similar ({sup 3}He,d) experiments with improved energy resolution are also discussed.