R-Process Nucleosynthesis In Neutrino-Driven Winds From A Typical Neutron Star With M = 1.4 Msun

We study the effects of the outer boundary conditions in neutrino-driven winds on the r-process nucleosynthesis. We perform numerical simulations of hydrodynamics of neutrino-driven winds and nuclear reaction network calculations of the r-process. As an outer boundary condition of hydrodynamic calculations, we set a pressure upon the outermost layer of the wind, which is approaching toward the shock wall. Varying the boundary pressure, we obtain various asymptotic thermal temperature of expanding material in the neutrino-driven winds for resulting nucleosynthesis. We find that the asymptotic temperature slightly lower than those used in the previous studies of the neutrino-driven winds can lead to a successful r-process abundance pattern, which is in a reasonable agreement with the solar system r-process abundance pattern even for the typical proto-neutron star mass Mns ~ 1.4 Msun. A slightly lower asymptotic temperature reduces the charged particle reaction rates and the resulting amount of seed elements and lead to a high neutron-to-seed ratio for successful r-process. This is a new idea which is different from the previous models of neutrino-driven winds from very massive (Mns ~ 2.0 Msun) and compact (Rns ~ 10 km) neutron star to get a short expansion time and a high entropy for a successful r-process abundance pattern. Although such a large mass is sometimes criticized from observational facts on a neutron star mass, we dissolve this criticism by reconsidering the boundary condition of the wind. We also explore the relation between the boundary condition and neutron star mass, which is related to the progenitor mass, for successful r-process.Comment: 14 pages, 2 figure

Generalized molecular chaos hypothesis and H-theorem: Problem of constraints and amendment of nonextensive statistical mechanics

Quite unexpectedly, kinetic theory is found to specify the correct definition of average value to be employed in nonextensive statistical mechanics. It is shown that the normal average is consistent with the generalized Stosszahlansatz (i.e., molecular chaos hypothesis) and the associated H-theorem, whereas the q-average widely used in the relevant literature is not. In the course of the analysis, the distributions with finite cut-off factors are rigorously treated. Accordingly, the formulation of nonextensive statistical mechanics is amended based on the normal average. In addition, the Shore-Johnson theorem, which supports the use of the q-average, is carefully reexamined, and it is found that one of the axioms may not be appropriate for systems to be treated within the framework of nonextensive statistical mechanics.Comment: 22 pages, no figures. Accepted for publication in Phys. Rev.

Hidden gauge structure and derivation of microcanonical ensemble theory of bosons from quantum principles

Microcanonical ensemble theory of bosons is derived from quantum mechanics by making use of a hidden gauge structure. The relative phase interaction associated with this gauge structure, described by the Pegg-Barnett formalism, is shown to lead to perfect decoherence in the thermodynamics limit and the principle of equal a priori probability, simultaneously.Comment: 10 page

New Equations of State in Simulations of Core-Collapse Supernovae

We discuss three new equations of state (EOS) in core-collapse supernova simulations. The new EOS are based on the nuclear statistical equilibrium model of Hempel and Schaffner-Bielich (HS), which includes excluded volume effects and relativistic mean-field (RMF) interactions. We consider the RMF parameterizations TM1, TMA, and FSUgold. These EOS are implemented into our spherically symmetric core-collapse supernova model, which is based on general relativistic radiation hydrodynamics and three-flavor Boltzmann neutrino transport. The results obtained for the new EOS are compared with the widely used EOS of H. Shen et al. and Lattimer & Swesty. The systematic comparison shows that the model description of inhomogeneous nuclear matter is as important as the parameterization of the nuclear interactions for the supernova dynamics and the neutrino signal. Furthermore, several new aspects of nuclear physics are investigated: the HS EOS contains distributions of nuclei, including nuclear shell effects. The appearance of light nuclei, e.g., deuterium and tritium is also explored, which can become as abundant as alphas and free protons. In addition, we investigate the black hole formation in failed core-collapse supernovae, which is mainly determined by the high-density EOS. We find that temperature effects lead to a systematically faster collapse for the non-relativistic LS EOS in comparison to the RMF EOS. We deduce a new correlation for the time until black hole formation, which allows to determine the maximum mass of proto-neutron stars, if the neutrino signal from such a failed supernova would be measured in the future. This would give a constraint for the nuclear EOS at finite entropy, complementary to observations of cold neutron stars.Comment: 26 pages, 17 figures. v3: replaced Fig. 1 with the published one, text unchange

Tests of a proximity focusing RICH with aerogel as radiator

Using aerogel as radiator and multianode PMTs for photon detection, a proximity focusing Cherenkov ring imaging detector has been constructed and tested in the KEK $\pi$2 beam. The aim is to experimentally study the basic parameters such as resolution of the single photon Cherenkov angle and number of detected photons per ring. The resolution obtained is well approximated by estimates of contributions from pixel size and emission point uncertainty. The number of detected photons per Cherenkov ring is in good agreement with estimates based on aerogel and detector characteristics. The values obtained turn out to be rather low, mainly due to Rayleigh scattering and to the relatively large dead space between the photocathodes. A light collection system or a higher fraction of the photomultiplier active area, together with better quality aerogels are expected to improve the situation. The reduction of Cherenkov yield, for charged particle impact in the vicinity of the aerogel tile side wall, has also been measured.Comment: 4 pages, 8 figure

Supernova Simulations with Boltzmann Neutrino Transport: A Comparison of Methods

Accurate neutrino transport has been built into spherically symmetric simulations of stellar core collapse and postbounce evolution. The results of such simulations agree that spherically symmetric models with standard microphysical input fail to explode by the delayed, neutrino-driven mechanism. Independent groups implemented fundamentally different numerical methods to tackle the Boltzmann neutrino transport equation. Here we present a direct and detailed comparison of such neutrino radiation-hydrodynamical simulations for two codes, Agile-Boltztran of the Oak Ridge-Basel group and Vertex of the Garching group. The former solves the Boltzmann equation directly by an implicit, general relativistic discrete angle method on the adaptive grid of a conservative implicit hydrodynamics code with second-order TVD advection. In contrast, the latter couples a variable Eddington factor technique with an explicit, moving-grid, conservative high-order Riemann solver with important relativistic effects treated by an effective gravitational potential. The presented study is meant to test both neutrino radiation-hydrodynamics implementations and to provide a data basis for comparisons and verifications of supernova codes to be developed in the future. Results are discussed for simulations of the core collapse and post-bounce evolution of a 13 solar mass star with Newtonian gravity and a 15 solar mass star with relativistic gravity.Comment: 23 pages, 13 figures, revised version, to appear in Ap

Stability of Tsallis antropy and instabilities of Renyi and normalized Tsallis entropies: A basis for q-exponential distributions

The q-exponential distributions, which are generalizations of the Zipf-Mandelbrot power-law distribution, are frequently encountered in complex systems at their stationary states. From the viewpoint of the principle of maximum entropy, they can apparently be derived from three different generalized entropies: the Renyi entropy, the Tsallis entropy, and the normalized Tsallis entropy. Accordingly, mere fittings of observed data by the q-exponential distributions do not lead to identification of the correct physical entropy. Here, stabilities of these entropies, i.e., their behaviors under arbitrary small deformation of a distribution, are examined. It is shown that, among the three, the Tsallis entropy is stable and can provide an entropic basis for the q-exponential distributions, whereas the others are unstable and cannot represent any experimentally observable quantities.Comment: 20 pages, no figures, the disappeared "primes" on the distributions are added. Also, Eq. (65) is correcte