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

Journal Article · Tue Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 2008 · Astrophysical Journal

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1086/589507· OSTI ID:939144

Surman, Rebecca ^[1]; Mclaughlin, Gail C ^[2]; Ruffert, Maximilian ^[3]; Janka, Hans-Thomas ^[4]; Hix, William Raphael ^[5]

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1. Union College
2. North Carolina State University
3. University of Edinburgh
4. Max Planck Institut fur Astrophysik (MPA), Germany
5. ORNL

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.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States). Holifield Radioactive Ion Beam Facility (HRIBF)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Science (SC)
• DOE Contract Number: DE-AC05-00OR22725
• OSTI ID: 939144
• Journal Information: Astrophysical Journal, Vol. 679; ISSN 0004-637X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

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