Speaker
Description
The 12C+12C fusion reaction plays an significant role in our understanding of heavy element nucleosynthesis, as well as supernovae of type Ia. Two of its channels, namely $^{12}$C($^{12}$C,p)$^{23}$Na and $^{12}$C($^{12}$C,$\alpha$)$^{20}$Ne are currently under study at the Bellotti Ion Beam Facility within an energy range from 2$\,$MeV to 3.5$\,$MeV. While the first phase is focussing on 2.0$\,$MeV to 2.2$\,$MeV, where there is no direct measurement as of today, future upgrades will try to cover the entire Gamow window.
The experimental approach is based on water-cooled, solid graphite targets, as well as a 150% HPGe detector and a segmented NaI detector in close geometry surrounded by a massive lead castle. This contribution will report on the development of the experimental setup, as well as on a dedicated target study, which was done at the Felsenkeller shallow-underground laboratory in Dresden.