A TPC Detector for Studying Photo-nuclear Reactions at Astrophysical Energies with Gamma-ray Beams at ELI-NP

The investigation of those nuclear reactions that are important for nucleosynthesis is essential in order to provide input for stellar evolution calculations and theory validation, but their measurement at the relevant energies is often extremely difficult. In particular, the study of the 12C(α,γ)16O reaction, which regulates the production of oxygen and carbon at energies close to the Gamow peak is not an easy task. Since it is not possible with present day experimental conditions to measure its cross section at the Gamow peak