Abstract Reactions induced by alpha particles, which play an important role in nuclear astrophysics, were investigated at energies below the Coulomb barrier using our IFIN-HH facilities. These include the 3 MV Tandetron™ accelerator 1, a local laboratory and the ultra-low background laboratory μ Bq 2 located in a salt mine. Thick Zn metal targets were irradiated at laboratory energies in the range E E α = 5. 4–8. 0 MeV in 0. 20 or 0. 25 MeV steps. By measuring the prompt gamma-ray yields and the decay of radioisotopes produced in each reaction, in the Nuclear Astrophysics Group (NAG) and the μ Bq laboratories 3, we determined the thick target yields, which were subsequently used to evaluate the reaction cross sections. We succeeded in determining the cross section for α + 64 Zn for the proton evaporation and radiative alpha capture channels at the lowest energies ever measured, deep inside the Gamow window for stellar processes at temperatures of 2–3 GK.
State et al. (2026) studied this question.