Direct charged-particle measurements with stable beams

A number of examples for direct measurements in nuclear astrophysics are given in order to address several important issues. First, recent results for the 16O(p,γ)17F reaction are discussed and it is shown how an improvement in reaction rate precision allows for significantly improved astrophysical predictions in connection with massive AGB stars. Second, we discuss improved experimental techniques for measuring astrophysically important (p,γ), (α ,γ), (p,α) and (α ,n) reactions. Emphasis is placed on the application of coincidence techniques in order to substantially reduce unwanted background signals. Third, the question of how a measured quantity and its associated uncertainty influences the derived reaction rate is explored. Recent advances employing the Monte Carlo method for estimating reaction rates are presented. The new reaction rates will allow for nucleosynthesis studies that were previously not feasible.