Nuclear Astrophysics at ISAC with DRAGON

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Most chemical elements have been produced in stars through a chain of nuclear reactions and radioactive decays, the abundance of a given isotope depending upon competition between rates of formation and destruction. The DRAGON facility measures strengths of radiative capture reactions which are key steps in sites where explosive burning of hydrogen or helium takes place. We recently have measured two reactions which are important in destruction of Al-26 or formation of Ti-44, two radionuclides whose decay has been detected in orbiting gamma-ray telescopes. We will continue to measure capture reactions of importance in nuclear astrophysics. Stellar sites of interest include novae, x-ray bursts and supernovae, while stellar observables include gamma rays from nuclear decay and isotopic abundances in meteorite grains. The combination of intense radioactive beams at TRIUMF/ISAC and high sensitivity of DRAGON is unmatched by any other facility in the world.