Investigating the sun: cross sections, S-factor, and thermonuclear reaction rates of (p,γ) and (p,α) reactions, with an analysis of sunspots in solar cycle 25
摘要
The Sun generates energy via two basic nuclear fusion processes: the p–p chain and the CNO cycle. In this study, we calculated the cross sections data for (p,γ) and (p,α) nuclear fusion reactions involving 7Be, 12C, 13C, 14N, and 15N in the p–p chain, and the CNO cycle using TALYS 1.95 and EMPIRE 3.2.3 for proton incident energies in the range of 0.5–10 MeV. The calculated cross sections for hydrogen burning were compared with theoretical data TENDL–2021; TEND–2023, Tel et al. (EPJ Web Conf 128, 2016), and experimental data. Furthermore, the obtained cross sections data were used to calculate the astrophysical S-factor over the range of 0.5–10 MeV and thermonuclear reaction rates within the T9 temperature range of (1–10) × 109 K. The results were verified using datasets from TENDL–2021 and TENDL–2023, Tel et al. (2016), and Angulo et al. (Nucl Phys A 656:3, 1999), and compared with experimental data. The study verifies the reliability and effectiveness of TALYS 1.95 and EMPIRE 3.2.3 in modeling nuclear reactions for specified isotopes at certain energies and temperatures. Additionally, Sunspot data for Solar cycle 25 in Kirkuk, Iraq, was recorded using a refracting telescope, confirming local observations' accuracy with records from NOAA and Helio4Cast.