Neutrino and anti-neutrino energy loss rates due to iron isotopes suitable for core-collapse simulations

Accurate estimate of neutrino energy loss rates are needed for the study of the late stages of the stellar evolution, in particular for cooling of neutron stars and white dwarfs. The energy spectra of neutrinos and antineutrinos arriving at the Earth can also provide useful information on the primary neutrino fluxes as well as neutrino mixing scenario (it is to be noted that these supernova neutrinos are emitted after the supernova explosion which is a much later stage of stellar evolution than that considered in this paper). Recently an improved microscopic calculation of weak-interaction mediated rates for iron isotopes was introduced using the proton-neutron quasiparticle random phase approximation (pn-QRPA) theory. Here I present for the first time the fine-grid calculation of the neutrino and anti-neutrino energy loss rates due to $^{54,55,56}$Fe in stellar matter. In the core of massive stars isotopes of iron, $^{54,55,56}$Fe, are considered to be key players in decreasing the electron-to-baryon ratio ($Y_{e}$) mainly via electron capture on these nuclide. Core-collapse simulators may find this calculation suitable for interpolation purposes and for necessary incorporation in the stellar evolution codes. The calculated cooling rates are also compared with previous calculations.Comment: 12 pages, 3 figures and 1 table. arXiv admin note: text overlap with arXiv:1108.4569, arXiv:1203.4675, arXiv:1203.434

Weak-interaction mediated rates on iron isotopes for presupernova evolution of massive stars

During the presupernova evolution of massive stars, the isotopes of iron, $^{54,55,56}$Fe, are advocated to play a key role inside the cores primarily decreasing the electron-to-baryon ratio ($Y_{e}$) mainly via electron capture processes thereby reducing the pressure support. Electron decay and positron capture on $^{55}$Fe, on the other hand, also has a consequential role in increasing the lepton ratio during the silicon burning phases of massive stars. The neutrinos and antineutrinos produced, as a result of these weak-interaction reactions, are transparent to the stellar matter and assist in cooling the core thereby reducing the entropy. The structure of the presupernova star is altered both by the changes in $Y_{e}$ and the entropy of the core material. The aim of this paper is to report the improved microscopic calculation of Gamow-Teller (GT$_{\pm}$) strength distributions of these key isotopes of iron using the pn-QRPA theory. The main improvement comes from the incorporation of experimental deformation values for these nuclei. Additionally six different weak-interaction rates, namely electron & positron capture, electron & positron decay, and, neutrino & antineutrino cooling rates, were also calculated in presupernova matter. The calculated electron capture and neutrino cooling rates due to isotopes of iron are in good agreement with the large-scale shell model (LSSM) results. The calculated beta decay rates, however, are suppressed by three to five orders of magnitude.Comment: 11 pages, 4 figures, 4 table

Gamow-Teller strength distributions and electron capture rates for 55Co and 56Ni

The Gamow-Teller strength (GT) distributions and electron capture rates on 55Co and 56Ni have been calculated using the proton-neutron quasiparticle random phase approximation theory. We calculate these weak interaction mediated rates over a wide temperature (0.01x109 - 30x109 K) and density (10 - 1011 g cm-3) domain. Electron capture process is one of the essential ingredients involved in the complex dynamics of supernova explosion. Our calculations of electron capture rates show differences with the reported shell model diagonalization approach calculations and are comparatively enhanced at presupernova temperatures. We note that the GT strength is fragmented over many final states.Comment: 10 pages, 6 figure