Measuring Near and Sub-Barrier Fusion of neutron-rich oxygen nuclei on a carbon target

Experimental investigation of the sub-barrier fusion of neutron-rich light nuclei is important in understanding the crusts of neutron stars, the structure of neutron-rich nuclei, and fusion dynamics of neutron-rich nuclei. It has recently been proposed that X-ray superbursts may originate from carbon burning ignited by heat from the fusion of neutron-rich oxygen nuclei in the crusts of accreting neutron stars [1]. An enhancement in the fusion probability, pronounced at energies near and below the Coulomb barrier, may signal the presence of different fusion dynamics as compared to the fusion of less neutron-rich nuclei. To assess if the fusion probability is enhanced for neutron-rich nuclei, we intend to measure the fusion excitation function of $^{16,20}$O + $^{12}$C for E$_{lab}<$ 60 MeV. We will describe the experimental setup associated with such a measurement. [1] C.J. Horowitz, H. Dussan, and D.K. Berry, \textbf{Phys. Rev. C 77, 045807~(2008)}