AUTHOR=Rapisarda G.G. , Lamia L. , Caciolli A. , Li Chengbo , Degl’Innocenti S. , Depalo R. , Palmerini S. , Pizzone R.G. , Romano S. , Spitaleri C. , Tognelli E. , Wen Qungang 

TITLE=Experimental Nuclear Astrophysics With the Light Elements Li, Be and B: A Review

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Astronomy and Space Sciences

VOLUME=Volume 7 - 2020

YEAR=2021

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/astronomy-and-space-sciences/articles/10.3389/fspas.2020.589240

DOI=10.3389/fspas.2020.589240

ISSN=2296-987X

ABSTRACT=Light elements offer an unique opportunity for studying several astrophysical scenarios from
BBN to stellar physics. Understanding the stellar abundances of light elements is a key to obtain information on internal stellar structure and mixing phenomena in different evolutionary phases, such as pre-main-sequence (PMS), main-sequence (MS) or red-giant branch (RGB). In such a case, light elements lithium, beryllium and boron are usually burnt at temperatures of the order of 2-5 STX 106 K. Consequently, the astrophysical S(E)-factor and the reaction rate of the nuclear reactions responsible for the burning of such light elements must be measured and evaluated at ultra-low energies, between 0-10 keV. The Trojan Horse Method (THM) is an experimental technique that allows to perform this kind of measurements avoiding uncertainties due to the extrapolation and electron screening effects on direct data. A long THM research program has been devoted to the measurement of light element burning cross sections at astrophysical energies. In addition, dedicated direct measurements have been performed using both in-beam spectroscopy and the activation technique. In this review we will report the details of these experimental measurements and the results in terms of S(E)-factor, reaction rate and electron screening potential. A comparison between astrophysical reaction rates evaluated here and the literature will also be given.