Complex-energy analysis of proton-proton fusion
An analysis of the astrophysical $S$ factor of the proton-proton weak capture ($\mathrm{p}+\mathrm{p}\rightarrow {}^2\mathrm{H}+\mathrm{e}^++ν_{\mathrm{e}}$) is performed on a large energy range covering solar-core and early Universe temperatures. The measurement of $S$ being physically unachievable, its value relies on the theoretical calculation of the matrix element $Λ$. Surprisingly, $Λ$ reaches a maximum near $0.13~\mathrm{MeV}$ that has been unexplained until now. A model-independent parametrization of $Λ$ valid up to about $5~\mathrm{MeV}$ is established on the basis of recent effective-range functions. It provides an insight into the relationship between the maximum of $Λ$ and the proton-proton resonance pole at $(-140-467\,\mathrm{i})~\mathrm{keV}$ from analytic continuation. In addition, this parametrization leads to an accurate evaluation of the derivatives of $Λ$, and hence of $S$, in the limit of zero energy.