New measurements of the astrophysical S factor for 12C(p, γ)13N reaction at low energies and the asymptotic normalization coefficient (nuclear vertex constant) for the p+12C → 13N reaction

New measurements of differential and total cross sections for the C-12(p,gamma)N-13 reaction have been made at beam energies of E-p = 354, 390, 460, 463, 565, 750, and 1061 keV. Analysis of the astrophysical S factor S(E) for the C-12(p,gamma)N-13 reaction at low energies and of the reaction rates has been carried out within the R-matrix approach by using the previously measured nuclear vertex constant (or the respective asymptotic normalization coefficient) for the virtual decay N-13 -> p + C-12 to fix the direct capture part of the amplitude in S(E). It is demonstrated that the R-matrix approach, using the measured asymptotic normalization coefficient, can be employed as an ideal tool, minimizing the uncertainties associated with a calculation of the direct capture cross section of the C-12(p,gamma)N-13 reaction at extremely low energies. New information on the proton and gamma width for the first excited state of N-13 is obtained.