C-14(Alpha,Gamma) Reaction Rate

The C-14(alpha,gamma) reaction rate at temperatures below 0.3 GK depends on the properties of two near threshold resonances in O-18, the 1(-) at 6.198 MeV and the 3(-) at 6.404 MeV. The alpha + C-14 asymptotic normalization coefficients for these resonances were determined using the alpha-transfer reactions C-14(Li-7, t) and C-14(Li-6, d) at sub-Coulomb energies. The C-14(alpha,gamma) reaction rate at low temperatures has been evaluated. Implications of the new reaction rate on the evolution of accreting helium white dwarfs and on the nucleosynthesis of low mass stars during the asymptotic giant branch phase are discussed.