10,854 research outputs found
Nucleosynthesis in the Outflow from Gamma Ray Burst Accretion Disks
We examine the nucleosynthesis products that are produced in the outflow from
rapidly accreting disks. We find that the type of element synthesis varies
dramatically with the degree of neutrino trapping in the disk and therefore the
accretion rate of the disk. Disks with relatively high accretion rates such as
10 M_solar/s can produce very neutron rich nuclei that are found in the r
process. Disks with more moderate accretion rates can produce copious amounts
of Nickel as well as the light elements such as Lithium and Boron. Disks with
lower accretion rates such as 0.1 M_solar/s produce large amounts of Nickel as
well as some unusual nuclei such as Ti-49, Sc-45, Zn-64, and Mo-92. This wide
array of potential nucleosynthesis products is due to the varying influence of
electron neutrinos and antineutrinos emitted from the disk on the
neutron-to-proton ratio in the outflow. We use a parameterization for the
outflow and discuss our results in terms of entropy and outflow acceleration.Comment: 12 pages, 12 figures; submitted to Ap
Neutrino Interactions in the Outflow from Gamma-Ray Burst Accretion Disks
We examine the composition of matter as it flows away from gamma ray burst
accretion disks, in order to determine what sort of nucleosynthesis may occur.
Since there is a large flux of neutrinos leaving the surface of the disk, the
electron fraction of the outflowing material will change due to charged current
neutrino interactions. We calculate the electron fraction in the wind using
detailed neutrino fluxes from every point on the disk and study a range of
trajectories and outflow conditions for several different accretion disk
models. We find that low electron fractions, conducive to making r-process
elements, only appear in outflows from disks with high accretion rates that
have a significant region both of trapped neutrinos and antineutrinos. Disks
with lower accretion rates that have only a significant region of trapped
neutrinos can have outflows with very high electron fractions, whereas the
lowest accretion rate disks with little trapping have outflow electrons
fractions of closer to one half.Comment: 11 pages, 10 figure
Neutrinos and the synthesis of heavy elements: the role of gravity
The synthesis of heavy elements in the Universe presents several challenges.
From one side the astrophysical site is still undetermined and on other hand
the input from nuclear physics requires the knowledge of properties of exotic
nuclei, some of them perhaps accessible in ion beam facilities. Black hole
accretion disks have been proposed as possible r-process sites. Analogously to
Supernovae these objects emit huge amounts of neutrinos. We discuss the
neutrino emission from black hole accretion disks. In particular we show the
influence that the black hole strong gravitational field has on changing the
electron fraction relevant to the synthesis of elements.Comment: 5 pages, 5 figures, Invited talk at the 15th International Symposium
on Capture Gamma-Ray Spectroscopy and Related Topics (CGS15), to appear in
EPJ Web of Conference
The Influence of Nuclear Composition on the Electron Fraction in the Post-Core-Bounce Supernova Environment
We study the early evolution of the electron fraction (or, alternatively, the
neutron-to-proton ratio) in the region above the hot proto-neutron star formed
after a supernova explosion. We study the way in which the electron fraction in
this environment is set by a competition between lepton (electron, positron,
neutrino, and antineutrino) capture processes on free neutrons and protons and
nuclei. Our calculations take explicit account of the effect of nuclear
composition changes, such as formation of alpha particles (the alpha effect)
and the shifting of nuclear abundances in nuclear statistical equilibrium
associated with cooling in near-adiabatic outflow. We take detailed account of
the process of weak interaction freeze-out in conjunction with these nuclear
composition changes. Our detailed treatment shows that the alpha effect can
cause significant increases in the electron fraction, while neutrino and
antineutrino capture on heavy nuclei tends to have a buffering effect on this
quantity. We also examine the effect on weak rates and the electron fraction of
fluctuations in time in the neutrino and antineutrino energy spectra arising
from hydrodynamic waves. Our analysis is guided by the Mayle & Wilson supernova
code numerical results for the neutrino energy spectra and density and velocity
profiles.Comment: 38 pages, AAS LaTeX, 8 figure
Neutrinos, Fission Cycling, and the r-process
It has long been suggested that fission cycling may play an important role in
the r-process. Fission cycling can only occur in a very neutron rich
environment. In traditional calculations of the neutrino driven wind of the
core-collapse supernova, the environment is not sufficiently neutron rich to
produce the r-process elements. However, we show that with a reduction of the
electron neutrino flux coming from the supernova, fission cycling does occur
and furthermore it produces an abundance pattern which is consistent with
observed r-process abundance pattern in halo stars. Such a reduction can be
caused by active-sterile neutrino oscillations or other new physics.Comment: Typos corrected. Presented at NIC-IX, International Symposium on
Nuclear Astrophysics - Nuclei in the Cosmos - IX, CERN, Geneva, Switzerland,
25-30 June, 200
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