{sup 144}Sm-{alpha} optical potential at astrophysically relevant energies derived from {sup 144}Sm({alpha},{alpha}){sup 144}Sm elastic scattering

For the determination of the {sup 144}Sm-{alpha} optical potential we measured the angular distribution of {sup 144}Sm({alpha},{alpha}){sup 144}Sm scattering at the energy E{sub lab}=20 MeV with high accuracy. Using the known systematics of {alpha}-nucleus optical potentials we are able to derive the {sup 144}Sm-{alpha} optical potential at the astrophysically relevant energy E{sub c.m.}=9.5 MeV with very limited uncertainties. {copyright} {ital 1997} {ital The American Physical Society}