GT strengths and electron-capture rates for pf-shell nuclei of relevance for late stellar evolution

This paper presents a systematic evaluation of the ability of theoretical models to reproduce experimental Gamow-Teller transition strength distributions measured via (n,p)-type charge-exchange reactions at intermediate beam energies. The focus is on transitions from stable nuclei in the pf shell (45<A<64). The impact of deviations between experimental and theoretical Gamow-Teller strength distributions on derived stellar electron-capture rates at densities and temperatures of relevance for Type Ia and Type II supernovae is investigated. The theoretical models included in the study are based on the shell-model, using the KB3G and GXPF1a interactions, and quasiparticle random-phase approximation (QRPA) using ground-state deformation parameters and masses from the finite-range droplet model.