Experimental evidence for a natural parity state in Mg26 and its impact on the production of neutrons for the s process

We have studied natural parity states in {sup 26}Mg via the {sup 22}Ne({sup 6}Li, d){sup 26}Mg reaction. Our method significantly improves the energy resolution of previous experiments and, as a result, we report the observation of a natural parity state in {sup 26}Mg. Possible spin-parity assignments are suggested on the basis of published {gamma}-ray decay experiments. The stellar rate of the {sup 22}Ne({alpha},{gamma}){sup 26}Mg reaction is reduced and may give rise to an increase in the production of s-process neutrons via the {sup 22}Ne({alpha},n){sup 25}Mg reaction.