Radiative proton-capture reactions of high-Z nuclei in the sun and in liquid-metallic hydrogen

Thermonuclear and pycnonuclear reaction rates and enhancement factors of ra diative proton captures of high-Z nuclei as well as those of p-p and p-d re actions are evaluated for the solar interior and in dense liquid-metallic h ydrogen. It is predicted that proton capture of nuclei such as C-12, N-14, O-16, and F-19 may take place at considerably high rates owing to strong sc reening by K-shell electrons, if the density of metallic hydrogen exceeds s imilar to 70 g/cm(3) and the temperature remains just above solidification. (C) 2000 Published by Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.