LEVEL MATRIX, N-16 BETA-DECAY, AND THE C-12(ALPHA, GAMMA)O-16 REACTION

The level matrix corresponding to the K-matrix parametrization of a resonant nuclear reaction is derived and applied to the spectrum of alpha particles emitted following N-16 beta decay. The parametrized spectrum is fitted to data simultaneously with the E1 capture cross section of the C-12(alpha,gamma)O-16 reaction and the p-wave phase shift of C-12(alpha,alpha)C-12. Our analysis shows that new measurements of the alpha spectrum from N-16 beta decay could be used to significantly reduce the uncertainty of the C-12(alpha,gamma)O-16 astrophysical S factor at 0.3 MeV. Various constraints on the parameters are analyzed and suggestions are made for further reducing the uncertainty in this crucial reaction rate.