Assessing the near threshold cross section of the O 17 (n,α) C 14 reaction by means of the Trojan horse method

The study of the O17(n,α)C14 reaction has been performed by means of the Trojan horse method (THM) applied to the quasifree H2(O17,αC14)H1 reaction induced at a beam energy of 43.5 MeV. The THM allowed us to study the 8121-keV O∗18 resonant level, for which the previous THM investigation pointed out the ability of the method to overcome the centrifugal barrier suppression effects in the entrance channel. Here, in view of the developments of the method for resonant reactions, the detailed analysis of the performed experiment will be discussed, focusing on the extraction of the 8121-keV resonance strength for which no information is present in scientific literature. Moreover, the experimental results clearly show the excitation of the subthreshold level centered at -6 keV in the center-of-mass system, which is fundamental to determine the O17(n,α)C14 reaction rate of astrophysical interest. Finally, a new recommended reaction rate is presented for future astrophysical application.