The 19F(a,p)22Ne Reaction and the Nucleosynthesis of Fluorine

The 19F(a,p)22Ne reaction is considered to be the main source of fluorine depletion during the Asymptotic Giant Branch and Wolf-Rayet phases in stars. The reaction rate still retains large uncertainties due to the lack of experimental studies available. The yields for both the ground p0 and first excited state p1 exit channels of 22Ne have been measured with the University of Notre Dame KN van de Graaff accelerator. Several resonances were found in the energy range Elab=792-1990 keV and their energies and reduced width amplitudes have been determined in the context of the R-matrix theory of nuclear reactions. A new reaction rate is provided and the impact the new rate has for the nucleosynthesis of fluorine in stellar environments is discussed.