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The 23 Al(p, γ)24 Si stellar reaction rate has a significant impact on the light-curve emitted in X-ray bursts. Theoretical calculations show that the reaction rate is mainly determined by the properties of direct capture as well as low-lying 2+ states and a possible 4+ state in 24 Si. Currently, there is little experimental information on the properties of these states.In this proceeding we will present a new experimental study to investigate this reaction, using the surrogate reaction 23 Al(d,n) at 47 AMeV at the National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory (NSCL). We will discuss our new experimental setup which allows us to use full kinematics employing the Gamma-Ray Energy Tracking In-beam Nuclear Array (GRETINA) to detect the γ-rays following the de-excitation of excited states of the reaction products and the Low Energy Neutron Detector Array (LENDA) to detect the recoiling neutrons. The S800 was used for identification of the 24 Si recoils. As a proof of principle to show the feasibility of this concept the Q-value spectrum of 22 Mg(d,n)23 Al is reconstructed.

Radiative alpha-capture, ($\alpha,\gamma$), reactions play a critical role in nucleosynthesis and nuclear energy generation in a variety of astrophysical environments. The St. George recoil separator at the University of Notre Dame's Nuclear Science Laboratory was developed to measure ($\alpha,\gamma$) reactions in inverse kinematics via recoil detection in order to obtain nuclear reaction cross sections at the low energies of astrophysical interest, while avoiding the $\gamma$-background that plagues traditional measurement techniques. Due to the $\gamma$-ray produced by the nuclear reaction at the target location, recoil nuclei are produced with a variety of energies and angles, all of which must be accepted by St. George in order to accurately determine the reaction cross section. We demonstrate the energy acceptance of the St. George recoil separator using primary beams of helium, hydrogen, neon, and oxygen, spanning the magnetic and electric rigidity phase space populated by recoils of anticipated ($\alpha,\gamma$) reaction measurements. We found the performance of St. George meets the design specifications, demonstrating its suitability for ($\alpha,\gamma$) reaction measurements of astrophysical interest., Comment: Accepted to Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research A