Impact and perspectives of radioactive beam experiments for the rp-process

Nuclear Astrophysics is concerned with the study of nuclear processes at stellar temperature and density conditions and its influence on nucleosynthesis and energy generation in stars and stellar explosions. Of particular interest is the understanding and interpretation of hot and explosive stellar scenarios and the concomitant nucleosynthesis involving nuclear processes far off P-stability. Neutron induced explosive processes occur in the neutrino-wind driven shock front of supernova explosions or can be triggered by the merging of two neutron stars. Hydrogen induced explosive processes occur in the thermonuclear runaway on the surface of an accreting white dwarf (novae) and in the hydrogen rich electron degenerate accreted material in the atmosphere of neutron stars (X-ray bursts, X-ray pulsars). The associated nuclear reaction and decay processes are far away from P-stability and need to be measured by using radioactive ion beams or radioactive targets. Limitations for these experiments are low beam intensities and high background radiation. Several radioactive beam facilities are already in operation and more are expected based on improved technological developments allowing reliable studies of reaction processes far off stability. We will discuss recent results of radioactive beam experiments and their implications for explosive stellar hydrogen burning in novae, X-ray bursts, and X-ray pulsars. We will also identify specific needs for nuclear reaction and decay data of specific importance for explosive hydrogen burning for future radioactive ion beam experiments. (C) 2001 Published by Elsevier Science B.V.