ELECTRON-CAPTURE RATES OF LIGHT-ELEMENTS OF ASTROPHYSICAL INTEREST INTHE PRESENCE OF A NONTHERMAL TAIL OF ELECTRON-PLASMA

The electron capture rates of the reactions He-3(e-, nu(e))H-3, H-1(pe -, nu(e))H-2 and Be-7(e-, nu(e)gamma)Li-7 are considered here assuming a partial non-thermal distribution of electrons for the environment o f the solar core. Those capture reactions which have negative Q-values are drastically modified, whereas those having positive Q-values are modified by about 30-40%, so much so that in case of He-3(e-, nu(e))H- 3, the process turns out to be a cycle H-3 <-- --> He-3 in its own rig ht at temperatures < 10(8) K. Implications for B-8 solar neutrino rate s are discussed.