One of the first applications of Gamow’s theory of quantum mechanical potential barrier penetration to other than his analysis of alpha radioactivity was in the field of thermonuclear astrophysics [1,2]. Atkinson and Houtermans proposed that the source of energy released by stars lay in thermonuclear reactions taking place near their centres where the motion of nuclei was supposed to be in ther...

We show that there are no dynamic screening corrections to the Salpeter’s enhancement factor in the weak-screening limit. Subject headings: nuclear reactions

Recent improvements and remaining problems in the prediction of thermonuclear rates are reviewed. The main emphasis is on statistical model calculations, but the challenge to include direct reactions close to the driplines is also briefly addressed. Further theoretical as well as experimental investigations are motivated.

An analytic study of the reaction probability integrals corresponding to the various forms of the slowly varying cross-section factor S(E) is attempted. Exact expressions for reaction probability integrals are expressed in terms of the extended gamma functions.