0000000000246616
AUTHOR
John J. Cowan
The Astrophysicalr‐Process: A Comparison of Calculations following Adiabatic Expansion with Classical Calculations Based on Neutron Densities and Temperatures
The rapid neutron-capture process (r-process) encounters unstable nuclei far from β-stability. Therefore its observable features, like the abundances, witness (still uncertain) nuclear structure as well as the conditions in the appropriate astrophysical environment. With the remaining lack of a full understanding of its astrophysical origin, parameterized calculations are still needed. We consider two approaches: (1) the classical approach is based on (constant) neutron number densities nn and temperatures T over duration timescales τ; (2) recent investigations, motivated by the neutrino wind scenario from hot neutron stars after a supernova explosion, followed the expansion of matter with …
The Extremely Metal‐poor, Neutron Capture–rich Star CS 22892‐052: A Comprehensive Abundance Analysis
High-resolution spectra obtained with three ground-based facilities and the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) have been combined to produce a new abundance analysis of CS 22892-052, an extremely metal-poor giant with large relative enhancements of neutron-capture elements. A revised model stellar atmosphere has been derived with the aid of a large number of Fe-peak transitions, including both neutral and ionized species of six elements.Several elements, including Mo, Lu, Au, Pt and Pb, have been detected for the first time in CS 22892-052, and significant upper limits have been placed on the abundances of Ga, Ge, Cd, Sn, and U in this star. In total, abundance measurements or upper limits have b…
r‐Process Abundances and Chronometers in Metal‐poor Stars
Rapid neutron-capture (i.e., r-process) nucleosynthesis calculations, employing internally consistent and physically realistic nuclear physics input (QRPA beta-decay rates and the ETFSI-Q nuclear mass model), have been made. These calculations are compared with ground-based and HST observations of neutron-capture elements in the metal poor halo stars CS 22892--052, HD 115444, HD 122563 and HD 126238. The elemental abundances in all four metal-poor stars are consistent with the solar r-process elemental distribution for the elements Z >/= 56. These results strongly suggest, at least for those elements, that the relative elemental r-process abundances have not changed over the history of t…
r-process chronometers
Abstract We compare calculations of r-process abundances with recent astronomical observations from extremely metal-deficient, neutron-capture-rich halo stars. We derive criteria to determine Th and U chronometric ages, and deduce astrophysical conditions under which the observed abundance patterns can be obtained under r-like conditions.
Operation of the r-process and cosmochronology
Abstract The rapid neutron capture process produced about half of the heavy elements in nature beyond the Fe-peak. In the past quite a number of astrophysical sites have been suggested, but none of them has yet been uniquely identified. Without assuming a particular site or model, we deduce the conditions responsible for the production of r-process nuclei by making use of the following information: (1) the solar r-process abundances and (2) nuclear masses and beta decay half lives for nuclei far from stability - in particular experimental information near magic neutron numbers, which determines the shape of the r-process peaks. In addition, we review briefly galactic age determinations base…