Spectroscopic studies on $^{39}$Ca for classical nova endpoint nucleosynthesis

In classical nova nucleosythesis repeated proton capture reactions and beta-decays produce proton-rich isotopes and the endpoint of this nucleosynthesis typically occurs in nuclei close to A $\sim$ 40. There is currently a discrepancy between the observed and predicted isotopic abundances in this mass region. One particular reaction, $^{38}$K(p,$\gamma$)$^{39}$Ca is important in this regard. Nova simulations show that this reaction can alter the isotopic abundances of $^{38}$Ar, $^{39}$K, and $^{40}$Ca significantly when the reaction rate is varied by its maximum uncertainty. Thus, it is important to constrain uncertainties of this reaction rate to accurately predict isotopic abundances. Although a recent direct measurement has reduced the reaction rate uncertainty, more measurements precisely probing the low energy resonances within the Gamow window would help this effort. To that end, I will present important levels in $^{39}$Ca with experiments performed at the Maier Leibnitz Laboratory and TUNL.