THERMONUCLEAR REACTION-RATES FOR DENSE BINARY-IONIC MIXTURES

Enhancement factors for the thermonuclear reaction rates in dense bina ry-ionic mixtures (BIMs) with charge ratio R(Z) less-than-or-equal-to 5 are calculated through detailed examination of the screening potenti als at short ranges obtained by the Monte Carlo simulation method. Sma ll but nonnegligible deviations of the screening distances from the co nstant electron-density, ion-sphere scaling are discovered at R(Z) is similar to 5 for the ''lighter'' elements; the deviations act further to enhance the reaction rates. The triple-alpha reactions in He-C mixt ures are treated as an example.