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Trojan Horse Method for the 12C + 12C Reaction: An Update
M. La Cognata, A. Tumino, A.A. Oliva, A. Nurmukhanbetova, G. L. Guardo, L. Lamia, D. Lattuada, R. G. Pizzone, G. G. Rapisarda, S. Romano, M. L. Sergi, R. Spartá
Carbon burning plays a key role in astrophysical environments that determine the fate of stars, including late-stage massive stars and superbursts in accreting neutron stars. However, the relevant 12C + 12C fusion reactions at astrophysical energies remain poorly constrained from direct measurements, as they are hindered by the strong Coulomb barrier and significant uncertainties in low-energy data. We present results obtained via the Trojan Horse Method (THM), using 14N as a Trojan Horse nucleus to access the 12C + 12C interaction at sub-Coulomb energy. The measurements of the 12C(12C,α)20Ne and 12C(12C, p)23Na channels reveal a rich resonance structure in the astrophysical S-factor. We discuss how a multiresonance approach challenges scenarios invoking fusion hindrance, and that the three-body cross sections are well reproduced by preliminary DWBA calculations. The experimental results are also supported by recent theoretical models, including those based on molecular resonance frameworks.