s-Process Nucleosynthesis in Advanced Burning Phases of Massive Stars

Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astrophysics

Scientific paper

Rate now

  [ 0.00 ] – not rated yet Voters 0   Comments 0

Details

52 pages, 16 figures, accepted for publication in ApJ

Scientific paper

10.1086/509753

We present a detailed study of s-process nucleosynthesis in massive stars of solar-like initial composition and masses 15, 20,25, and 30 Msun. We update our previous results of s-process nucleosynthesis during the core He-burning of these stars and then focus on an analysis of the s-process under the physical conditions encountered during the shell-carbon burning. We show that the recent compilation of the Ne22(alpha,n)Mg25 rate leads to a remarkable reduction of the efficiency of the s-process during core He-burning. In particular, this rate leads to the lowest overproduction factor of Kr80 found to date during core He-burning in massive stars. The s-process yields resulting from shell carbon burning turn out to be very sensitive to the structural evolution of the carbon shell. This structure is influenced by the mass fraction of C12 attained at the end of core helium burning, which in turn is mainly determined by the C12(alpha,gamma)O16 reaction. The still present uncertainty in the rate for this reaction implies that the s-process in massive stars is also subject to this uncertainty. We identify some isotopes like Zn70 and Rb87 as the signatures of the s-process during shell carbon burning in massive stars. In determining the relative contribution of our s-only stellar yields to the solar abundances, we find it is important to take into account the neutron exposure of shell carbon burning. When we analyze our yields with a Salpeter Initial Mass Function, we find that massive stars contribute at least 40% to s-only nuclei with mass A <= 87. For s-only nuclei with mass A >90, massive stars contribute on average ~7%, except for Gd152, Os187, and Hg198 which are ~14%, \~13%, and ~11%, respectively.

No associations

LandOfFree

Say what you really think

Search LandOfFree.com for scientists and scientific papers. Rate them and share your experience with other people.

Rating

s-Process Nucleosynthesis in Advanced Burning Phases of Massive Stars 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 s-Process Nucleosynthesis in Advanced Burning Phases of Massive Stars, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and s-Process Nucleosynthesis in Advanced Burning Phases of Massive Stars will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

     

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-531320

  Search
All data on this website is collected from public sources. Our data reflects the most accurate information available at the time of publication.