The 12C+12C fusion reaction at stellar energies

Abstract

The carbon fusion reaction is crucial in stellar evolution. Despite six decades of studies, there is still a large uncertainty in the reaction rate which limits our understanding of various stellar objects, such as massive stars, type Ia supernovae, and superbursts. In this paper, we review the experimental and theoretical studies of the carbon fusion reaction at sub-barrier energies. An outlook for future studies is also presented.