The 42Ca(α, γ)46Ti and 42Ca(α, p)45Sc cross sections and the mass-45 bottleneck

The yield of γ-rays from the reaction ⁴²Ca(α, γ)⁴⁶Ti has been measured as a function of bombarding energy over the range E_α = 3.42–5.62 MeV and from ⁴²Ca(α, pγ)⁴⁵Sc over the range E_α = 4.06–5.92 MeV, and the yield of protons from the reaction ⁴²Ca(α, p)⁴⁵Sc has been measured over the range E_α = 4.78–5.92 MeV. Cross sections for all three reactions have been extracted from the data and compared with global statistical-model calculations. The agreement is good. Thermonuclear reaction rates under stellar conditions appropriate for silicon burning are calculated and their significance for the approach to and bridging of the mass-45 bottleneck in the upward flow of nucleosynthesis is discussed.