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Title: Neutron-star mergers and new opportunities in rare isotope experimental research

Abstract

The recent observation of the first neutron-star merger event GW170817 had major impact on our understanding of stellar nucleosynthesis. It was identified for the first time as one of the sites for the astrophysical r process, a process that is responsible for the synthesis of roughly half of the isotopes of the heavy elements. The observed kilonova afterglow from the neutronstar merger event was interpreted as the result of the radioactive decays of r-process isotopes as they decay back to the valley of stability. The observed kilonova light curve is however broad due to its complex composition and the Doppler-shift due to fast moving matter, and is therefore impossible to interpret without accurate knowledge of the nuclear properties of the nuclei involved. This work focuses on the current experimental efforts to measure the relevant nuclear properties, together with plans for the next generation radioactive beam facilities, and in particular the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams (FRIB).

Authors:
 [1]
  1. Michigan State Univ., East Lansing, MI (United States). National Superconducting Cyclotron Lab., Joint Institute for Nuclear Astrophysics
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Michigan State Univ., East Lansing, MI (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA)
OSTI Identifier:
1657660
Alternate Identifier(s):
OSTI ID: 1575091
Grant/Contract Number:  
NA0003221; NA0000979; PHY-1102511; PHY-1430152; PHY-1350234
Resource Type:
Accepted Manuscript
Journal Name:
Annals of Physics
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 412; Journal ID: ISSN 0003-4916
Publisher:
Elsevier
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS; Neutron star merger; GW170817; Nuclear astrophysics; Nuclear properties; Kilonova; Rare isotopes

Citation Formats

Spyrou, Artemis. Neutron-star mergers and new opportunities in rare isotope experimental research. United States: N. p., 2019. Web. doi:10.1016/j.aop.2019.168017.
Spyrou, Artemis. Neutron-star mergers and new opportunities in rare isotope experimental research. United States. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aop.2019.168017
Spyrou, Artemis. Mon . "Neutron-star mergers and new opportunities in rare isotope experimental research". United States. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aop.2019.168017. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1657660.
@article{osti_1657660,
title = {Neutron-star mergers and new opportunities in rare isotope experimental research},
author = {Spyrou, Artemis},
abstractNote = {The recent observation of the first neutron-star merger event GW170817 had major impact on our understanding of stellar nucleosynthesis. It was identified for the first time as one of the sites for the astrophysical r process, a process that is responsible for the synthesis of roughly half of the isotopes of the heavy elements. The observed kilonova afterglow from the neutronstar merger event was interpreted as the result of the radioactive decays of r-process isotopes as they decay back to the valley of stability. The observed kilonova light curve is however broad due to its complex composition and the Doppler-shift due to fast moving matter, and is therefore impossible to interpret without accurate knowledge of the nuclear properties of the nuclei involved. This work focuses on the current experimental efforts to measure the relevant nuclear properties, together with plans for the next generation radioactive beam facilities, and in particular the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams (FRIB).},
doi = {10.1016/j.aop.2019.168017},
journal = {Annals of Physics},
number = ,
volume = 412,
place = {United States},
year = {Mon Nov 04 00:00:00 EST 2019},
month = {Mon Nov 04 00:00:00 EST 2019}
}

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