Study of the

The rate of the $$^{25}$$Al(p, $$\gamma $$)$$^{26}$$Si reaction is one of the few key remaining nuclear uncertainties required for predicting the production of the cosmic $$\gamma $$-ray emitter $$^{26}$$Al in explosive burning in novae. This reaction rate is dominated by three key resonances ($$J^{\pi }=0^{+}$$, $$1^{+}$$ and $$3^{+}$$) in $$^{26}$$Si. Only the $$3^{+}$$ resonance strength has been directly constrained by experiment. A high resolution measurement of the $$^{25}$$Mg(d, p) reaction was used to determine spectroscopic factors for analog states in the mirror nucleus, $$^{26}$$Mg. A first spectroscopic factor value is reported for the $$0^{+}$$ state at 6.256 MeV, and a strict upper limit is set on the value for the $$1^{+}$$ state at 5.691 MeV, that is incompatible with an earlier ($$^{4}$$He, $$^{3}$$He) study. These results are used to estimate proton partial widths, and resonance strengths of analog states in $$^{26}$$Si contributing to the $$^{25}$$Al(p, $$\gamma $$)$$^{26}$$Si reaction rate in nova burning conditions