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Detonation-wave structure and nucleosynthesis in exploding carbon--oxygen cores and white dwarfs

Journal Article · · Sov. Astron. Lett. (Engl. Transl.); (United States)
OSTI ID:6150931

The structure of steady detonation waves in strongly degenerate carbon C/sup 12/ of initial density rho/sub 0/ = 10/sup 6/--10/sup 8/ g/cm/sup 3/ is studied, using a kinetic network of about 600 nuclear reactions and 84 nuclides from C/sup 12/ to Ni/sup 56/ (including p, n, ..cap alpha..). Existence conditions are established for all detonation regimes admitted by the hydrodynamic theory of combustion. The hydrodynamic and kinetic zone widths X/sub h/, X/sub e/ of a detonation wave (X/sub e/> or =X/sub h/) are calculated as a function of rho/sub 0/. Below a critical density rho/sub det/ roughly-equal10/sup 7/ g/cm/sup 3/, detonation in C--O white dwarfs and red giant cores will not produce the Fe-peak elements but will yield abundant lighter elements (O, Ne, Mg, Si, S, Ar, Ca, ...), in qualitative accord with recent spectroscopy of type I supernovae and SNRs.

Research Organization:
Institute of Theoretical and Experimental Physics, Moscow; and Astronomical Council, USSR Academy of Sciences, Moscow
OSTI ID:
6150931
Journal Information:
Sov. Astron. Lett. (Engl. Transl.); (United States), Journal Name: Sov. Astron. Lett. (Engl. Transl.); (United States) Vol. 10:4; ISSN SALED
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English