EAS Publications Series

The Third European Summer School on Experimental Nuclear Astrophysics
M. Busso, R.G. Pizzone, C. Rolfs, C. Spitaleri and A. Tumino (eds)
EAS Publications Series, 27 (2007) 67-81
DOI: 10.1051/eas:2007145

The R-matrix Method in Nuclear Astrophysics

P. Descouvemont

Physique Nucléaire Théorique et Physique Mathématique, CP 229, Université Libre de Bruxelles, 1050 Brussels, Belgium

pdesc@ulb.ac.be

(Published online: 27 September 2007)

Abstract
We present a short overview of the R-matrix method in nuclear physics, with emphasis on nuclear astrophysics. The method can be applied in two ways: solving the Schrödinger equation for scattering states, or fitting experimental cross sections. Both variants are presented in a common framework. The method is illustrated with the $\alpha+\alpha$ scattering, and the ¹²C(p, $\gamma$ )¹³N and ³He(d,p)⁴He reactions.