Graduate Student Seminar with Nicolas Dronchi on the Correction to a Correction

In a pair of experiments, the B(E2; 2⁺₁ -> 0⁺_g.s) was measured for ³⁶Ca. The first experiment measured a cross section for the Coulomb excitation of a ³⁶Ca beam where only gamma decays were detected. The second experiment measured the branching ratio required as a correction to this cross section because the 2⁺₁ state of ³⁶Ca is above the proton separation energy. We initially proposed this experiment to provide accurate values to use in correcting the charge RMS radius and provide a constraint to the L parameter in the equation of state. Now we also know the measured B(E2) value significantly differs from that previously employed in an astrophysical calculation. This B(E2) is useful in x-ray burst simulations where ³⁴Ar sits at a waiting point which is sensitive to the ³⁵K(p,γ)³⁶Ca reaction rate.