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Nucleosynthesis in novea: A source of Ne-E and /sup 26/Al

Journal Article · · Astrophys. J.; (United States)
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1086/159864· OSTI ID:5032351
In the framework of recent nova models, nucleosynthetic products of explosive hydrogen burning are computed. It is shown that nova condensates are likely to contain isotopic anomalies in both /sup 22/Ne from /sup 22/Na decay and /sup 26/Mg from /sup 26/Mg from /sup 26/Al decay. In particular we find for all models considered: (1) Too much /sup 20/Ne and /sup 21/Ne is produced relative to /sup 22/Ne to explain the meteroritic Ne-E component, which presumably is almost pure /sup 22/Ne. (2) The abundance of /sup 22/Na, however, is suffieciently high to explain Ne-E as its decay product if nova condensates are preserved in Ne samples. In particular the /sup 22/Na//sup 23/Na production ratio is well above the observed limit. (3) Aluminium-26 is coproduced with /sup 22/Na, but the total amount of /sup 26/Al is strongly dependent on the very uncertain /sup 27/Si(p, ..gamma..)/sup 28/P reaction rate. (4) Further crucial reaction rates are /sup 21/Na(p, ..gamma..)/sup 22/Mg and /sup 22/Na(p, ..gamma..)/sup 23/Mg which determine the computed /sup 22/Na abundance and deserve more attention. (5) The abundances of all nuclides up to Ar are also computed and are found to be distinctly nonsolar in many cases.
Research Organization:
Max-Planck-Institut fuer Physik und Astrophysik, Institut fuer Astrophysik
OSTI ID:
5032351
Journal Information:
Astrophys. J.; (United States), Journal Name: Astrophys. J.; (United States) Vol. 255:2; ISSN ASJOA
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English