Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astrophysics
Scientific paper
1997-01-28
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astrophysics
18 pages, LaTeX using astrobib and aas2pp4, includes PostScript figures; Astrophysical Journal, in press. PostScript source al
Scientific paper
10.1086/304300
Hot (explosive) hydrogen burning or the Rapid Proton Capture Process (rp-process) occurs in a number of astrophysical environments. Novae and X-ray bursts are the most prominent ones, but accretion disks around black holes and other sites are candidates as well. The expensive and often multidimensional hydro calculations for such events require an accurate prediction of the thermonuclear energy generation, while avoiding full nucleosynthesis network calculations. In the present investigation we present an approximation scheme applicable in a temperature range which covers the whole range of all presently known astrophysical sites. It is based on the concept of slowly varying hydrogen and helium abundances and assumes a kind of local steady flow by requiring that all reactions entering and leaving a nucleus add up to a zero flux. This scheme can adapt itself automatically and covers situations at low temperatures, characterized by a steady flow of reactions, as well as high temperature regimes where a $(p,\gamma)-(\gamma,p)$-equilibrium is established. In addition to a gain of a factor of 15 in computational speed over a full network calculation, and an energy generation accurate to more than 15 %, this scheme also allows to predict correctly individual isotopic abundances. Thus, it delivers all features of a full network at a highly reduced cost and can easily be implemented in hydro calculations.
Freiburghaus Ch.
Rauscher Thomas
Rembges F.
Schatz Hendrik
Thielemann Friederich-Karl
No associations
LandOfFree
An Approximation for the rp-Process does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.
If you have personal experience with An Approximation for the rp-Process, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and An Approximation for the rp-Process will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-672593