R-process Nucleosynthesis of Subminimal Neutron Star Explosions Article Swipe

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Nucleosynthesis Physics r-process Ejecta Neutron star Astrophysics Luminosity Neutrino Nuclear reaction Nuclear physics Stellar nucleosynthesis Stellar evolution Supernova Astronomy Stars Galaxy

Chun-Ming Yip , M. C. Chu , Shing-Chi Leung , Lap-Ming Lin ·

YOU? · · 2023 · Open Access · · DOI: https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4357/acf570 · OA: W4387613919

We show that a minimum-mass neutron star undergoes delayed explosion after mass removal from its surface. We couple the Newtonian hydrodynamics to a nuclear reaction network of ∼4500 isotopes to study the nucleosynthesis and neutrino emission during the explosion. An electron antineutrino burst with a peak luminosity of ∼3 × 10 50 erg s −1 is emitted while the ejecta is heated to ∼10 9 K. A robust r -process nucleosynthesis is realized in the ejecta. Lanthanides and heavy elements near the second and third r -process peaks are synthesized as end products of nucleosynthesis, suggesting that subminimal neutron star explosions could be an important source of solar chemical elements.