2022arXiv (Cornell University)Open access

Radiative neutron capture reaction rates for r-process nucleosynthesis

Vinay K. Singh, Joydev Lahiri, Malay Kanti Dey, D. N. Basu

Open full text 0 citations

Abstract

About half of the elements beyond iron are synthesized in stars by rapid-neutron capture process (r-process). The stellar environment provides very high neutron flux in a short time ($\sim$ seconds) which is conducive for the creation of progressively neutron-rich nuclei till the waiting point is reached after which no further neutron capture reactions proceed. At this point such extremely neutron-rich nuclei become stable via $β^-$ decay. A detailed understanding of the r-process remains illusive. In the present work, we explore the radiative neutron-capture (n,$γ$) cross sections and reaction rates around the r-process peak near mass number eighty. The inherent uncertainties remain large in some cases, particularly in case of neutron-rich nuclei. When the low-energy enhancement exists, it results in significant increase in the reaction rate for neutron-capture.

Open-access reader

About this research paper

What this paper is about

About half of the elements beyond iron are synthesized in stars by rapid-neutron capture process (r-process). The stellar environment provides very high neutron flux in a short time ($\sim$ seconds) which is conducive for the creation of progressively neutron-rich nuclei till the waiting point is reached after which no further neutron capture reactions proceed. At this point such extremely neutron-rich nuclei become stable via $β^-$ decay. A detailed understanding of the r-process remains illusive. In the present work, we explore the radiative neutron-capture (n,$γ$) cross sections and reaction rates around the r-process peak near mass number eighty. The inherent uncertainties remain large in some cases, particularly in case of neutron-rich nuclei. When the low-energy enhancement exists, it results in significant increase in the reaction rate for neutron-capture.

Why it matters

A significance statement is not available in the OpenAlex record.

Key contribution

A contribution statement is not available in the OpenAlex record.

Method / approach

Method details are not available in the OpenAlex metadata.

Main findings

Findings are not separately available in the OpenAlex metadata.

Limitations

Limitations are not available in the OpenAlex metadata.

Applications

Application details are not available in the OpenAlex metadata.

Available abstract

About half of the elements beyond iron are synthesized in stars by rapid-neutron capture process (r-process). The stellar environment provides very high neutron flux in a short time ($\sim$ seconds) which is conducive for the creation of progressively neutron-rich nuclei till the waiting point is reached after which no further neutron capture reactions proceed. At this point such extremely neutron-rich nuclei become stable via $β^-$ decay. A detailed understanding of the r-process remains illusive. In the present work, we explore the radiative neutron-capture (n,$γ$) cross sections and reaction rates around the r-process peak near mass number eighty. The inherent uncertainties remain large in some cases, particularly in case of neutron-rich nuclei. When the low-energy enhancement exists, it results in significant increase in the reaction rate for neutron-capture.

Key concepts: Neutron capture, r-process, Nucleosynthesis, s-process, Neutron, Physics, Nuclear physics, Nuclear astrophysics

Related papers

Back to paper searchBrowse research topicsOriginal source
Radiative neutron capture reaction rates for r-process nucleosynthesis — Research Paper | ScholarLens