F.-K. Thielemann

rp-process nucleosynthesis at extreme temperature and density conditions

We present nuclear reaction network calculations to investigate the influence of nuclear structure on the rp-process between Ge and Sn in various scenarios. Due to the lack of experimental data for neutron-deficient nuclei in this region, we discuss currently available model predictions for nuclear masses and deformations as well as methods of calculating reaction rates (Hauser-Feshbach) and beta-decay rates (QRPA and shell model). In addition, we apply a valence nucleon (NpNn) correlation scheme for the prediction of masses and deformations. We also describe the calculations of 2p-capture reactions, which had not been considered before in this mass region. We find that in X-ray bursts 2p-capture reactions accelerate the reaction flow into the Z greater than or equal to 36 region considerably. Therefore, the rp-process in most X-ray bursts does not end in the Z = 32-36 region as previously assumed and overproduction factors of 10(7)-10(8) are reached for some light p-nuclei in the A = 80-100 region. This might be of interest in respect of the yet unexplained large observed solar system abundances of these nuclei. Nuclei in this region can also be produced via the rp-proces in accretion disks around low mass black holes. Our results indicate that the rp-process energy production in the Z < 32 region cannot be neglected in these scenarios. We discuss in detail the influence of the various nuclear structure input parameters and their current uncertainties on these results. It turns out that rp-process nucleosynthesis is mainly determined by nuclear masses and beta-decay rates of nuclei along the proton drip line. We present a detailed list of nuclei for which mass or beta-decay rate measurements would be crucial to further constrain the models

Neutrino-induced nucleosynthesis of a > 64 nuclei: The vp process

We present a new nucleosynthesis process that we denote as the nu p process, which occurs in supernovae (and possibly gamma-ray bursts) when strong neutrino fluxes create proton-rich ejecta. In this process, antineutrino absorptions in the proton-rich environment produce neutrons that are immediately captured by neutron-deficient nuclei. This allows for the nucleosynthesis of nuclei with mass numbers A>64, , making this process a possible candidate to explain the origin of the solar abundances of (92,94)Mo and (96,98)Ru. This process also offers a natural explanation for the large abundance of Sr seen in a hyper-metal-poor star.

End Point of therpProcess on Accreting Neutron Stars

We calculate the rapid proton (rp) capture process of hydrogen burning on the surface of an accreting neutron star with an updated reaction network that extends up to Xe, far beyond previous work. In both steady-state nuclear burning appropriate for rapidly accreting neutron stars (such as the magnetic polar caps of accreting x-ray pulsars) and unstable burning of type I x-ray bursts, we find that the rp process ends in a closed SnSbTe cycle. This prevents the synthesis of elements heavier than Te and has important consequences for x-ray burst profiles, the composition of accreting neutron stars, and potentially galactic nucleosynthesis of light p nuclei.

Signals of the QCD phase transition in core-collapse supernovae

We explore the implications of the QCD phase transition during the postbounce evolution of core-collapse supernovae. Using the MIT bag model for the description of quark matter, we model phase transitions that occur during the early postbounce evolution. This stage of the evolution can be simulated with general relativistic three-flavor Boltzmann neutrino transport. The phase transition produces a second shock wave that triggers a delayed supernova explosion. If such a phase transition happens in a future galactic supernova, its existence and properties should become observable as a second peak in the neutrino signal that is accompanied by significant changes in the energy of the emitted neutrinos. This second neutrino burst is dominated by the emission of antineutrinos because the electron degeneracy is reduced when the second shock passes through the previously neutronized matter.

Non-standard s-process in low metallicity massive rotating stars

Context. Rotation is known to affect the nucleosynthesis of light elements in massive stars, mainly by rotation-induced mixing. In particular, rotation boosts the primary nitrogen production. Models of rotating stars are able to reproduce the nitrogen observed in low-Z halo stars. Aims. Here we present the first grid of stellar models for rotating massive stars at low Z, where a full s-process network is used to study the impact of rotation-induced mixing on the nucleosynthesis of heavy elements. Methods. We used the Geneva stellar evolution code that includes an enlarged reaction network with nuclear species up to bismuth to calculate 25 M

The endpoint of the rp-process on accreting neutron stars

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KADoNiS‐ The Karlsruhe Astrophysical Database of Nucleosynthesis in Stars

models at three different Z and with different initial rotation rates. Results. First, we confirm that rotation-induced mixing leads to a production of primary

Neutrino-driven wind simulations and nucleosynthesis of heavy elements

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Nucleosynthesis Modes in The High-Entropy Wind of Type II Supernovae: Comparison of Calculations With Halo-Star Observations

Ne, which is the main neutron source for the s process in massive stars. Therefore rotation boosts the s process in massive stars at all Z. Second, the neutron-to-seed ratio increases with decreasing Z in models including rotation, which leads to the complete consumption of all iron seeds at Z 1% in mass fraction at all Z), which could open the door for an explosive neutron capture nucleosynthesis in the He-shell, with a primary neutron source.

PUSHING CORE-COLLAPSE SUPERNOVAE TO EXPLOSIONS IN SPHERICAL SYMMETRY. I. THE MODEL AND THE CASE OF SN 1987A

We have studied the evolution of the shell structure of nuclei near the neutron drip line in the Relativistic Hartree-Bogoliubov (RHB) theory with the vector self-coupling of omega meson. The experimental data on the shell effects about the waiting-point nucleus