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Extracting the rp-process from X-ray burst light curves

J. L. Fisker·E. Brown·M. Liebendoerfer·H. Schatz·F. -K. Thielemann
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Abstract

The light curves of type I X-ray bursts (XRBs) result from energy released from the atmosphere of a neutron star when accreted hydrogen and helium ignite and burn explosively via the rp-process. Since charged particle reaction rates are both density and very temperature dependent, a simulation model must provide accurate values of these variables to predict the reaction flow. This paper uses a self-consistent one-dimensional model calculation with a constant accretion rate of dM/dt=5e16g/s (0.045 Eddington) and reports on the detailed rp-process reaction flow of a given burst.

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J. L. Fisker, E. Brown, M. Liebendoerfer, H. Schatz, F. -K. Thielemann. 2004-07-15. Extracting the rp-process from X-ray burst light curves. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nuclphysa.2005.05.082

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