Recent measurements of the 12 C + 12 C fusion cross section near the Gamow energy by γ - ray spectroscopy

Recently, the fusion cross sections of the reactions 12C(12C,α)20Ne and 12C(12C,p)23Na have been measured by γ-ray spectroscopy at energies as low as 2.10 MeV in the center of mass [10]. These measurements employed targets of ultra-low hydrogen contamination to suppress background which had hindered previous studies of the reactions. In this report the results are discussed relative to several parametrizations of the 12C + 12C cross section devised for the purpose of extrapolation of the reaction rate.