Three-Alpha Radiative Reaction Processes At Low Temperatures

We study the triple-alpha reaction process at low temperatures, which is known to play an important role in stellar physics. The Schrodinger equation for three alpha particles is solved using hyperspherical coordinates, while a complex absorbing potential is introduced in order to describe correctly the three-body continuum states. The triple-alpha reaction rate is computed accurately at temperatures from T = 0:01 to 1 GK and compared with those available in the literature.