Study of the ⁵⁶Ni(d,p)⁵⁷Ni Reaction and the Astrophysical ⁵⁶Ni(p,γ)⁵⁷Cu Reaction Rate

The single-particle character of states outside the doubly magic (radioactive) nucleus ⁵⁶Ni has been determined through a measurement of the (d,p) neutron transfer reaction using inverse kinematics. From the spectroscopic factors of the low-lying states in ⁵⁷Ni, the astrophysically interesting yield for the ⁵⁶Ni(p,γ) reaction to the mirror nucleus ⁵⁷Cu has been calculated, utilizing charge symmetry. The rate for this reaction in the temperature range typical of novae, supernovae, and x-ray bursts is found to be more than 10 times higher than previously assumed.