arXiv subjects

Hendrik Schatz

Publications and source records attributed to Hendrik Schatz.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Nuclear Physics of X-ray Bursts

Thermonuclear X-ray bursts from the surface of accreting neutron stars are the most common astrophysical explosions in our galaxy. They provide a unique window into the physics of neutron stars, the physics of matter under extreme conditions, and the physics of astrophysical thermonuclear explosions. X-ray bursts are powered by a broad range of nuclear reactions that need to be understood to interpret observations. The relevant nuclei are mostly neutron deficient and unstable, and thus experimental information and theoretical understanding is limited and an active area of research in nuclear science. We review the current status of the nuclear physics of X-ray bursts, with special emphasis on new experimental and theoretical information on a large number of reaction rates. As such we provide an overview of the broad experimental and theoretical methods currently used to advance the nuclear physics of X-ray bursts. The new information is used to update the public JINA REACLIB database with 32 new reaction rates based on experimental information, and a new dataset of theoretical statistical model reaction rates where no experimental information is available. Using several models for X-ray bursts that are powered by mixed hydrogen and helium burning, we take advantage of the updated nuclear data to review the current understanding of the nuclear reaction sequences in such X-ray bursts, the modeling of light curves, and predictions of the composition of nuclear ashes.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2026

Propagating Uncertainties from Nuclear Physics to Gamma-rays in Core Collapse Supernovae

Nuclear yields are powerful probes of supernova explosions, their engines and their progenitors. In addition, as we improve our understanding of these explosions, we can use nuclear yields to probe dense matter and neutrino physics, both of which play a critical role in the central supernova engine. Especially with upcoming gamma-ray detectors that can directly detect radioactive isotopes out to increasing distances from gamma-rays emitted during their decay, nuclear yields have the potential to provide some of the most direct probes of supernova engines and stellar burning. To utilize these probes, we must understand and limit the uncertainties in their production. Uncertainties in the nuclear physics can be minimized by combining both laboratory experiments and nuclear theory. Similarly, astrophysical uncertainties caused by simplified explosion trajectories can be minimized by higher-fidelity stellar-evolution and supernova-engine models. This paper reviews the physics and astrophysics uncertainties in modeling nucleosynthetic yields, identifying the key areas of study needed to maximize the potential of supernova yields as probes of astrophysical transients and dense-matter physics.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2025

On the Origin of Spectral Features Observed during Thermonuclear X-ray Bursts and in the Aftermath Emission of a Long Burst from 4U 1820-30

We study 15 thermonuclear X-ray bursts from 4U 1820--30 observed with the Neutron Star Interior Composition Explorer (NICER). We find evidence of a narrow emission line at 1.0 keV and three absorption lines at 1.7, 3.0, and 3.75 keV, primarily around the photospheric radius expansion phase of most bursts. The 1.0 keV emission line remains constant, while the absorption features, attributed to wind-ejected species, are stable but show slight energy shifts, likely due to combined effects of Doppler and gravitational redshifts. We also examine with NICER the ``aftermath'' of a long X-ray burst (a candidate superburst observed by MAXI) on 2021 August 23 and 24. The aftermath emission recovers within half a day from a flux depression. During this recovery phase, we detect two emission lines at 0.7 and 1 keV, along with three absorption lines whose energies decreased to 1.57, 2.64, and 3.64 keV. Given the nature of the helium white-dwarf companion, these absorption lines during the aftermath may originate from an accretion flow, but only if the accretion environment is significantly contaminated by nuclear ashes from the superburst. This provides evidence of temporary metal enhancement in the accreted material due to strong wind loss. Moreover, we suggest that the absorption features observed during the short X-ray bursts and in the superburst aftermath share a common origin in heavy nuclear ashes enriched with elements like Si, Ar, Ca, or Ti, either from the burst wind or from an accretion flow contaminated by the burst wind.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2025

Multidisciplinary Science in the Multimessenger Era

Astrophysical observations of the cosmos allow us to probe extreme physics and answer foundational questions on our universe. Modern astronomy is increasingly operating under a holistic approach, probing the same question with multiple diagnostics including how sources vary over time, how they appear across the electromagnetic spectrum, and through their other signatures, including gravitational waves, neutrinos, cosmic rays, and dust on Earth. Astrophysical observations are now reaching the point where approximate physics models are insufficient. Key sources of interest are explosive transients, whose understanding requires multidisciplinary studies at the intersection of astrophysics, gravity, nuclear science, plasma physics, fluid dynamics and turbulence, computation, particle physics, atomic, molecular, and optical science, condensed matter and materials science, radiation transport, and high energy density physics. This white paper provides an overview of the major scientific advances that lay at the intersection of physics and astronomy and are best probed through time-domain and multimessenger astrophysics, an exploration of how multidisciplinary science can be fostered, and introductory descriptions of the relevant scientific disciplines and key astrophysical sources of interest.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2024

Motivations for Early High-Profile FRIB Experiments

This white paper is the result of a collaboration by those that attended a workshop at the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams (FRIB), organized by the FRIB Theory Alliance (FRIB-TA), on Theoretical Justifications and Motivations for Early High-Profile FRIB Experiments. It covers a wide range of topics related to the science that will be explored at FRIB. After a brief introduction, the sections address: (II) Overview of theoretical methods, (III) Experimental capabilities, (IV) Structure, (V) Near-threshold Physics, (VI) Reaction mechanisms, (VII) Nuclear equations of state, (VIII) Nuclear astrophysics, (IX) Fundamental symmetries, and (X) Experimental design and uncertainty quantification.

nucl-th↗

arXiv2023

A catalogue of unusually long thermonuclear bursts on neutron stars

Rare, energetic (long) thermonuclear (Type I) X-ray bursts are classified either as intermediate-duration or superbursts, based on their duration. Intermediate-duration bursts lasting a few to tens of minutes are thought to arise from the thermonuclear runaway of a relatively thick (10^10 g/cm2) helium layer, while superbursts lasting hours are attributed to the detonation of an underlying carbon layer. We present a catalogue of 84 long thermonuclear bursts from 40 low-mass X-ray binaries, and defined from a new set of criteria distinguishing them from the more frequent short bursts. The three criteria are: (1) a total energy release larger than 10^40 erg, (2) a photospheric radius expansion phase longer than 10 s, and (3) a burst time-scale longer than 70 s. This work is based on a comprehensive systematic analysis of 70 bursts found with INTEGRAL, RXTE, Swift, BeppoSAX, MAXI, and NICER, as well as 14 long bursts from the literature that were detected with earlier generations of X-ray instruments. For each burst, we measure its peak flux and fluence, which eventually allows us to confirm the distinction between intermediate-duration bursts and superbursts. Additionally, we list 18 bursts that only partially meet the above inclusion criteria, possibly bridging the gap between normal and intermediate-duration bursts. With this catalogue, we significantly increase the number of long-duration bursts included in the MINBAR and thereby provide a substantial sample of these rare X-ray bursts for further study.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2022

Online Bayesian Optimization for Beam Alignment in the SECAR Recoil Mass Separator

The SEparator for CApture Reactions (SECAR) is a next-generation recoil separator system at the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams (FRIB) designed for the direct measurement of capture reactions on unstable nuclei in inverse kinematics. To maximize the performance of the device, careful beam alignment to the central ion optical axis needs to be achieved. This can be difficult to attain through manual tuning by human operators without potentially leaving the system in a sub-optimal and irreproducible state. In this work, we present the first development of online Bayesian optimization with a Gaussian process model to tune an ion beam through a nuclear astrophysics recoil separator. We show that the method achieves small incoming angular deviations (0-1 mrad) in an efficient and reproducible manner that is at least 3 times faster than standard hand-tuning. This method is now routinely used for all separator tuning.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2021

The impact of (n,$γ$) reaction rate uncertainties of unstable isotopes on the i-process nucleosynthesis of the elements from Ba to W

The abundances of n-capture elements in the CEMP-r/s stars agree with predictions of intermediate n-density nucleosynthesis, at $N_\mathrm{n}\sim 10^{13}$-$10^{15} \mathrm{cm}^{-3}$, in rapidly-accreting white dwarfs (RAWDs). We have performed Monte-Carlo simulations of this i-process nucleosynthesis to determine the impact of (n,$γ$) reaction rate uncertainties of 164 unstable isotopes, from $^{131}$I to $^{189}$Hf, on the predicted abundances of 18 elements from Ba to W. The impact study is based on two representative one-zone models with constant values of $N_\mathrm{n} = 3.16\times 10^{14}\ \mathrm{cm}^{-3}$ and $N_\mathrm{n} = 3.16\times 10^{13}\ \mathrm{cm}^{-3}$ and on a multi-zone model based on a realistic stellar evolution simulation of He-shell convection entraining H in a RAWD model with [Fe/H]=-2.6. For each of the selected elements, we have identified up to two (n,$γ$) reactions having the strongest correlations between their rate variations constrained by Hauser-Feshbach computations and the predicted abundances, with the Pearson product-moment correlation coefficients $|r_\mathrm{P}| > 0.15$. We find that the discrepancies between the predicted and observed abundances of Ba and Pr in the CEMP-i star CS31062-050 are significantly diminished if the rate of $^{137}$Cs(n,$γ)^{138}$Cs is reduced and the rates of $^{141}$Ba(n,$γ)^{142}$Ba or $^{141}$La(n,$γ)^{142}$La increased. The uncertainties of temperature-dependent $β$-decay rates of the same unstable isotopes have a negligible effect on the predicted abundances. One-zone Monte-Carlo simulations can be used instead of computationally time-consuming multi-zone Monte-Carlo simulations in reaction rate uncertainty studies if they use comparable values of $N_\mathrm{n}$ (abridged).

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2020

Reaction Rate Sensitivity of the Production of $γ$-ray Emitting Isotopes in Core-Collapse Supernova

Radioactive isotopes produced in core-collapse supernovae (CCSNe) provide useful insights into the underlying processes driving the collapse mechanism and the origins of elemental abundances. Their study generates a confluence of major physics research, including experimental measurements of nuclear reaction rates, astrophysical modeling, and $γ$-ray observations. Here we identify the key nuclear reaction rates to the nucleosynthesis of observable radioactive isotopes in explosive silicon-burning during CCSNe. Using the nuclear reaction network calculator SkyNet and current REACLIB reaction rates, we evolve temperature-density-time profiles of the innermost $0.45~M_\odot$ ejecta from the core collapse and explosion of a $12~M_\odot$ star. Individually varying 3403 reaction rates by factors of 100, we identify 141 reactions which cause significant differences in the isotopes of interest, namely, $^{43}$K, $^{47}$Ca, $^{44,47}$Sc, $^{44}$Ti, $^{48,51}$Cr, $^{48,49}$V, $^{52,53}$Mn, $^{55,59}$Fe, $^{56,57}$Co, and $^{56,57,59}$Ni. For each of these reactions, we present a novel method to extract the temperature range pertinent to the nucleosynthesis of the relevant isotope; the resulting temperatures lie within the range $T = 0.47$ to $6.15~$GK. Limiting the variations to within $1σ$ of STARLIB reaction rate uncertainties further reduces the identified reactions to 48 key rates, which can be used to guide future experimental research. Complete results are presented in tabular form.

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2020

Plastic Scintillation Detectors for Time-of-Flight Mass Measurements

Fast timing detectors are an essential element in the experimental setup for time-of-flight (ToF) mass measurements of unstable nuclei. We have upgraded the scintillator detectors used in experiments at the National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory (NSCL) by increasing the number of photomultiplier tubes that read out their light signals to four per detector, and characterized them in a test experiment with $^{48}$Ca beam at the NSCL. The new detectors achieved a time resolution ($σ$) of 7.5 ps. We systematically investigated different factors that affect their timing performance. In addition, we evaluated the ability of positioning the hitting points on the scintillator using the timing information and obtained a resolution ($σ$) below 1 mm for well-defined beam spots.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2019

The impact of (n,$γ$) reaction rate uncertainties on the predicted abundances of i-process elements with $32\leq Z\leq 48$ in the metal-poor star HD94028

Several anomalous elemental abundance ratios have been observed in the metal-poor star HD94028. We assume that its high [As/Ge] ratio is a product of a weak intermediate (i) neutron-capture process. Given that observational errors are usually smaller than predicted nuclear physics uncertainties, we have first set up a benchmark one-zone i-process nucleosynthesis simulation results of which provide the best fit to the observed abundances. We have then performed Monte Carlo simulations in which 113 relevant (n,$γ$) reaction rates of unstable species were randomly varied within Hauser-Feshbach model uncertainty ranges for each reaction to estimate the impact on the predicted stellar abundances. One of the interesting results of these simulations is a double-peaked distribution of the As abundance, which is caused by the variation of the $^{75}$Ga (n,$γ$) cross section. This variation strongly anti-correlates with the predicted As abundance, confirming the necessity for improved theoretical or experimental bounds on this cross section. The $^{66}$Ni (n,$γ$) reaction is found to behave as a major bottleneck for the i-process nucleosynthesis. Our analysis finds the Pearson product-moment correlation coefficient $r_\mathrm{P} > 0.2$ for all of the i-process elements with $32 \leq Z \leq 42$, with significant changes in their predicted abundances showing up when the rate of this reaction is reduced to its theoretically constrained lower bound. Our results are applicable to any other stellar nucleosynthesis site with the similar i-process conditions, such as Sakurai's object (V4334 Sagittarii) or rapidly-accreting white dwarfs.

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2018

Dense matter with eXTP

In this White Paper we present the potential of the Enhanced X-ray Timing and Polarimetry (eXTP) mission for determining the nature of dense matter; neutron star cores host an extreme density regime which cannot be replicated in a terrestrial laboratory. The tightest statistical constraints on the dense matter equation of state will come from pulse profile modelling of accretion-powered pulsars, burst oscillation sources, and rotation-powered pulsars. Additional constraints will derive from spin measurements, burst spectra, and properties of the accretion flows in the vicinity of the neutron star. Under development by an international Consortium led by the Institute of High Energy Physics of the Chinese Academy of Science, the eXTP mission is expected to be launched in the mid 2020s.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2018

The impact of (n,$γ$) reaction rate uncertainties of unstable isotopes near $N=50$ on the i process nucleosynthesis in He-shell flash white dwarfs

The first peak s-process elements Rb, Sr, Y and Zr in the post-AGB star Sakurai's object (V4334 Sagittarii) have been proposed to be the result of i-process nucleosynthesis in a post-AGB very-late thermal pulse event. We estimate the nuclear physics uncertainties in the i-process model predictions to determine whether the remaining discrepancies with observations are significant and point to potential issues with the underlying astrophysical model. We find that the dominant source in the nuclear physics uncertainties are predictions of neutron capture rates on unstable neutron rich nuclei, which can have uncertainties of more than a factor 20 in the band of the i-process. We use a Monte Carlo variation of 52 neutron capture rates and a 1D multi-zone post-processing model for the i-process in Sakurai's object to determine the cumulative effect of these uncertainties on the final elemental abundance predictions. We find that the nuclear physics uncertainties are large and comparable to observational errors. Within these uncertainties the model predictions are consistent with observations. A correlation analysis of the results of our MC simulations reveals that the strongest impact on the predicted abundances of Rb, Sr, Y and Zr is made by the uncertainties in the (n,$γ$) reaction rates of $^{85}$Br, $^{86}$Br, $^{87}$Kr, $^{88}$Kr, $^{89}$Kr, $^{89}$Rb, $^{89}$Sr, and $^{92}$Sr. (abridged)

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2016

Urca cooling pairs in the neutron star ocean and their effect on superbursts

An accretion outburst onto a neutron star deposits hydrogen-rich and/or helium-rich material into the neutron star's envelope. Thermonuclear burning of accreted material robustly produces Urca pairs\textrm{---}pairs of nuclei that undergo cycles of $e^-$-capture and $β^-$-decay. The strong $T^5$ dependence of the Urca cooling neutrino luminosity means that Urca pairs in the neutron star interior potentially remove heat from accretion-driven nuclear reactions. In this study, we identify Urca pairs in the neutron star's ocean \textrm{---} a plasma of ions and electrons overlaying the neutron star crust \textrm{---} and demonstrate that Urca cooling occurs at all depths in the ocean. We find that Urca pairs in the ocean and crust lower the ocean's steady-state temperature during an accretion outburst and that unstable carbon ignition, which is thought to trigger superbursts, occurs deeper than it would otherwise. Cooling superburst light curves, however, are only marginally impacted by cooling from Urca pairs because the superburst peak radiative luminosity $L_{\rm peak}$ is always much greater than the Urca pair neutrino luminosity $L_ν$ in the hot post-superburst ocean.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2016

Trends in Nuclear Astrophysics

Nuclear Astrophysics is a vibrant field at the intersection of nuclear physics and astrophysics that encompasses research in nuclear physics, astrophysics, astronomy, and computational science. This paper is not a review. It is intended to provide an incomplete personal perspective on current trends in nuclear astrophysics and the specific role of nuclear physics in this field.

nucl-ex↗

arXiv2016

A Survey of Chemical Separation in Accreting Neutron Stars

The heavy element ashes of rp-process hydrogen and helium burning in accreting neutron stars are compressed to high density where they freeze, forming the outer crust of the star. We calculate the chemical separation on freezing for a number of different nuclear mixtures resulting from a range of burning conditions for the rp-process. We confirm the generic result that light nuclei are preferentially retained in the liquid and heavy nuclei in the solid. This is in agreement with the previous study of a 17-component mixture of rp-process ashes by Horowitz et al. (2007), but extends that result to a much larger range of compositions. We also find an alternate phase separation regime for the lightest ash mixtures which does not demonstrate this generic behaviour. With a few exceptions, we find that chemical separation reduces the expected $Q_{\rm imp}$ in the outer crust compared to the initial rp-process ash, where $Q_{\rm imp}$ measures the mean-square dispersion in atomic number $Z$ of the nuclei in the mixture. We find that the fractional spread of $Z$ plays a role in setting the amount of chemical separation and is strongly correlated to the divergence between the two/three-component approximations and the full component model. The contrast in $Y_e$ between the initial rp-process ashes and the equilibrium liquid composition is similar to that assumed in earlier two-component models of compositionally driven convection, except for very light compositions which produce nearly negligible convective driving. We discuss the implications of these results for observations of accreting neutron stars.

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2016

White Paper on Nuclear Astrophysics

This white paper informs the nuclear astrophysics community and funding agencies about the scientific directions and priorities of the field and provides input from this community for the 2015 Nuclear Science Long Range Plan. It summarizes the outcome of the nuclear astrophysics town meeting that was held on August 21-23, 2014 in College Station at the campus of Texas A&M University in preparation of the NSAC Nuclear Science Long Range Plan. It also reflects the outcome of an earlier town meeting of the nuclear astrophysics community organized by the Joint Institute for Nuclear Astrophysics (JINA) on October 9- 10, 2012 Detroit, Michigan, with the purpose of developing a vision for nuclear astrophysics in light of the recent NRC decadal surveys in nuclear physics (NP2010) and astronomy (ASTRO2010). The white paper is furthermore informed by the town meeting of the Association of Research at University Nuclear Accelerators (ARUNA) that took place at the University of Notre Dame on June 12-13, 2014. In summary we find that nuclear astrophysics is a modern and vibrant field addressing fundamental science questions at the intersection of nuclear physics and astrophysics. These questions relate to the origin of the elements, the nuclear engines that drive life and death of stars, and the properties of dense matter. A broad range of nuclear accelerator facilities, astronomical observatories, theory efforts, and computational capabilities are needed. With the developments outlined in this white paper, answers to long standing key questions are well within reach in the coming decade.

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2015

Hubble Space Telescope Near-Ultraviolet Spectroscopy of Bright CEMP-s Stars

We present an elemental-abundance analysis, in the near-ultraviolet (NUV) spectral range, for the bright carbon-enhanced metal-poor (CEMP) stars HD196944 (V = 8.40, [Fe/H] = -2.41) and HD201626 (V = 8.16, [Fe/H] = -1.51), based on data acquired with the Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (STIS) on the Hubble Space Telescope. Both of these stars belong to the sub-class CEMP-s, and exhibit clear over-abundances of heavy elements associated with production by the slow neutron-capture process. HD196944 has been well-studied in the optical region, but we are able to add abundance results for six species (Ge, Nb, Mo, Lu, Pt, and Au) that are only accessible in the NUV. In addition, we provide the first determination of its orbital period, P=1325 days. HD201626 has only a limited number of abundance results based on previous optical work -- here we add five new species from the NUV, including Pb. We compare these results with models of binary-system evolution and s-process element production in stars on the asymptotic giant branch, aiming to explain their origin and evolution. Our best-fitting models for HD 196944 (M1,i = 0.9Mo, M2,i = 0.86Mo, for [Fe/H]=-2.2), and HD 201626 (M1,i = 0.9Mo , M2,i = 0.76Mo , for [Fe/H]=-2.2; M1,i = 1.6Mo , M2,i = 0.59Mo, for [Fe/H]=-1.5) are consistent with the current accepted scenario for the formation of CEMP-s stars.

astro-ph.SR↗