Nuclear physics plays a significant role in energy production and element synthesis of explosive astrophysical environments such as novae and X-ray bursts occurring in accreting compact stars. Prof. Tan’s research has been focused on the studies of the underlying nuclear reactions that trigger and boost these stellar explosions. One particular reaction is the 15O(a,g) breakout from the hot CNO cycle that is critical for understanding the behavior of X-ray bursts. Conditions of X-ray bursts are characterized by a sensitive interplay between fuel supply and depletion by nuclear burning. This balance depends critically on the ignition through the nuclear trigger reaction 15O(a,g) that regulates the flow between the beta-limited hot CNO cycle and the rapid proton (rp) capture process. Prof. Tan led the first measurement of this reaction rate at Notre Dame that demonstrated how the laboratory results can provide stringent limits for the burning conditions in stellar objects.
