Ignition of Carbon Burning from Nuclear Fission in Compact Stars

Horowitz, C. J.

doi:10.3847/2041-8213/ac8552

Title: Ignition of Carbon Burning from Nuclear Fission in Compact Stars

Journal Article · 08 August 2022 · The Astrophysical Journal. Letters

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3847/2041-8213/ac8552 · OSTI ID:1880697

Abstract Type Ia supernovae (SN Ia) are powerful stellar explosions that provide important distance indicators in cosmology. Recently, we proposed a new SN Ia mechanism that involves a nuclear fission chain reaction in an isolated white dwarf (WD). The first solids that form as a WD starts to freeze are actinide rich and potentially support a fission chain reaction. In this Letter, we explore thermonuclear ignition from fission heating. We perform thermal diffusion simulations and find at high densities, above about 7 × 10 ⁸ g cm ⁻³ , that fission heating can ignite carbon burning. This could produce an SN Ia or another kind of astrophysical transient.

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Research Organization:: Indiana Univ., Bloomington, IN (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE; USDOE Office of Science (SC), Nuclear Physics (NP)

Grant/Contract Number:: FG02-87ER40365; SC0018083

OSTI ID:: 1880697

Journal Information:: The Astrophysical Journal. Letters, Journal Name: The Astrophysical Journal. Letters Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 935; ISSN 2041-8205

Publisher:: American Astronomical SocietyCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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