Synthesis of Elements in Compact Stars in Pycnonuclear Reactions with Carbon Isotopes: Quasibound States vs. States of Zero-Points Vibrations

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

The manuscript introduces improved treatment of zero-point vibrations and their consequences for pycnonuclear reactions in compact stars. Presence of quasi-bound states is demonstrated and their role in the process of nucleosynthesis is suggested. The presented research is original and innovative. I recommend the manuscript for publication after minor modifications. For instance, the chosen model assumes vibrations of nucleus between two other nuclei in the lattice, whose positions, as I understand it, are fixed. Since however these can also vibrate, can authors shortly discuss stability of quasi-bound states toward such movement ? Also can they better introduce the model of Coulomb screening and its applicability to conditions in the crust ?  

Author Response

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Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 2 Report

This paper studies the picnonuclear racations and a new approach to

the computation of their rates on the basis of the multiple reflction

method. Concrete computations were carried out for Carbon type

nuclei. The paper is an interesting step towards better description of

the pinonuclear reactions in the future, including the screening

corrections. The paper can be published after the minor points below

are taken into account.

1. Reference on page 2, line 60 is undefined.

2. How are r_1.... r_N chosen? Are there periodic?

The English of this paper is acceptable. A spell-check could be performed with a computer. 

Author Response

Please see attachment.

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf