Enhanced Nuclear Binding near the Proton Drip Line Opens Possible Bypass of the\u3csup\u3e64\u3c/sup\u3e Ge Rapid Proton Capture Process Waiting Point

Abstract

We performed astrophysics model calculations with updated nuclear data to identify a possible bypass of the 64Ge waiting point, a defining feature of the rapid proton capture (rp) process that powers type I X-ray bursts on accreting neutron stars. We find that the rp-process flow through the 64Ge bypass could be up to 36% for astrophysically relevant conditions. Our results call for new studies of 65Se, including the nuclear mass, β-delayed proton emission branching, and nuclear structure as it pertains to the 64As(p, γ) reaction rate at X-ray burst temperatures