Thallium-208: a beacon of in situ neutron capture nucleosynthesis Article Swipe

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Physics Nucleosynthesis Galaxy r-process Thallium Neutron capture Astrophysics Telescope Neutron Line (geometry) Nuclear physics Astronomy Stars Chemistry Inorganic chemistry Mathematics Geometry

Nicole Vassh , Xilu Wang , Maude Larivière , T. M. Sprouse , Matthew R. Mumpower , Rebecca Surman , Zhenghai Liu , G. C. McLaughlin , Pavel A. Denissenkov , Falk Herwig ·

YOU? · · 2023 · Open Access · · DOI: https://doi.org/10.48550/arxiv.2311.10895 · OA: W4388890723

We demonstrate that the well-known 2.6 MeV gamma-ray emission line from thallium-208 could serve as a real-time indicator of astrophysical heavy element production, with both rapid (r) and intermediate (i) neutron capture processes capable of its synthesis. We consider the r process in a Galactic neutron star merger and show Tl-208 to be detectable from ~12 hours to ~10 days, and again ~1-20 years post-event. Detection of Tl-208 represents the only identified prospect for a direct signal of lead production (implying gold synthesis), arguing for the importance of future MeV telescope missions which aim to detect Galactic events but may also be able to reach some nearby galaxies in the Local Group.