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Title: r-Process Nucleosynthesis in Hot Accretion Disk Flows from Black Hole - Neutron Star Mergers

Abstract

We consider hot accretion disk outflows from black hole-neutron star mergers in the context of the nucleosynthesis they produce. We begin with a three-dimensional numerical model of a black hole-neutron star merger and calculate the neutrino and antineutrino fluxes emitted from the resulting accretion disk. We then follow the element synthesis in material outflowing the disk along parameterized trajectories. We find that at least a weak r-process is produced, and in some cases a main r-process as well. The neutron-rich conditions required for this production of r-process nuclei stem directly from the interactions of the neutrinos emitted by the disk with the free neutrons and protons in the outflow.

Authors:
 [1];  [2];  [3];  [4];  [5]
  1. Union College
  2. North Carolina State University
  3. University of Edinburgh
  4. Max Planck Institut fur Astrophysik (MPA), Germany
  5. ORNL
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States). Holifield Radioactive Ion Beam Facility (HRIBF)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE Office of Science (SC)
OSTI Identifier:
939144
DOE Contract Number:  
DE-AC05-00OR22725
Resource Type:
Journal Article
Journal Name:
Astrophysical Journal
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 679; Journal ID: ISSN 0004-637X
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS; 71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSICS; ACCRETION DISKS; ANTINEUTRINOS; BLACK HOLES; NEUTRINOS; NEUTRON STARS; NEUTRONS; NUCLEI; NUCLEOSYNTHESIS; PRODUCTION; PROTONS; R PROCESS; STARS; SYNTHESIS; TRAJECTORIES

Citation Formats

Surman, Rebecca, Mclaughlin, Gail C, Ruffert, Maximilian, Janka, Hans-Thomas, and Hix, William Raphael. r-Process Nucleosynthesis in Hot Accretion Disk Flows from Black Hole - Neutron Star Mergers. United States: N. p., 2008. Web. doi:10.1086/589507.
Surman, Rebecca, Mclaughlin, Gail C, Ruffert, Maximilian, Janka, Hans-Thomas, & Hix, William Raphael. r-Process Nucleosynthesis in Hot Accretion Disk Flows from Black Hole - Neutron Star Mergers. United States. https://doi.org/10.1086/589507
Surman, Rebecca, Mclaughlin, Gail C, Ruffert, Maximilian, Janka, Hans-Thomas, and Hix, William Raphael. 2008. "r-Process Nucleosynthesis in Hot Accretion Disk Flows from Black Hole - Neutron Star Mergers". United States. https://doi.org/10.1086/589507.
@article{osti_939144,
title = {r-Process Nucleosynthesis in Hot Accretion Disk Flows from Black Hole - Neutron Star Mergers},
author = {Surman, Rebecca and Mclaughlin, Gail C and Ruffert, Maximilian and Janka, Hans-Thomas and Hix, William Raphael},
abstractNote = {We consider hot accretion disk outflows from black hole-neutron star mergers in the context of the nucleosynthesis they produce. We begin with a three-dimensional numerical model of a black hole-neutron star merger and calculate the neutrino and antineutrino fluxes emitted from the resulting accretion disk. We then follow the element synthesis in material outflowing the disk along parameterized trajectories. We find that at least a weak r-process is produced, and in some cases a main r-process as well. The neutron-rich conditions required for this production of r-process nuclei stem directly from the interactions of the neutrinos emitted by the disk with the free neutrons and protons in the outflow.},
doi = {10.1086/589507},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/939144}, journal = {Astrophysical Journal},
issn = {0004-637X},
number = ,
volume = 679,
place = {United States},
year = {Tue Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 2008},
month = {Tue Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 2008}
}