Deuterium burning measurement at LUNA and its astrophysical and nuclear implications

Abstract

The deuterium burning reaction D(p,γ)3He at low energies is of primary importance in cosmology because it affects the primordial deuterium abundance, that in turn is very sensitive to fundamental cosmological parameters such as the baryon density and the amount of relativistic species permeating the early Universe. This reaction is also of a particular interest in theoretical nuclear physics because it offers a unique opportunity to test ab initio calculations. In the following a recent study of the D(p,γ)3He reaction in the 30 ≲ Ecm[keV] ≲ 280 energy range will be presented. This measurement has been performed in the underground Gran Sasso Laboratory by the LUNA (Laboratory for Underground Nuclear Astrophysics) collaboration. In addition, the need of having new and precise measurement of the D(d,n)3He and D(d,p)3H reactions will also be discussed.