$^{26}$Si and $^{30}$S studied via $(p,t)$ reactions using the Silicon Detector Array (SIDAR)

Spectroscopic studies of proton-rich nuclei are critical to evaluating thermonuclear reaction rates of importance to Hot- CNO and $rp$-process nucleosynthesis. One powerful method is to measure the energy and angular distributions of tritons produced in the $(p,t)$ reaction on stable targets. We have recently implemented such studies at ORNL using $\sim$40 MeV proton beams. Tritons were identified and detected in the SIDAR array, which allows data to be acquired over a large solid angle and at 16 angles simultaneously. Our first studies are of the $^ {26}$Si and $^{30}$S nuclei, which are produced by the $^{25}$Al ($p,\gamma$)$^{26}$Si and $^{29}$P($p,\gamma$)$^{30}$S reactions in novae, respectively. Details of the method and results will be presented.