Gamow-Teller strength for the analog transitions to the first T=1/2,J(pi)=3/2(-) states in (13)C and (13)N and the implications for type Ia supernovae

The Gamow-Teller strength for the transition from the ground state of (13)C to the T=1/2,J(pi)=3/2(-) excited state at 3.51 MeV in (13)N is extracted via the (13)C((3)He,t) reaction at 420 MeV. In contrast to results from earlier (p,n) studies on (13)C, a good agreement with shell-model calculations and the empirical unit cross-section systematics from other nuclei is found. The results are used to study the analog (13)N(e(-),nu(e))(13)C reaction, which plays a role in the pre-explosion convective phase of type Ia supernovae. Although the differences between the results from the ((3)He,t) and (p,n) data significantly affect the deduced electron-capture rate and the net heat deposition in the star resulting from this transition, the overall effect on the pre-explosive evolution is small.