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J. Cowan

Publications and source records attributed to J. Cowan.

2 recordsLinked to original sources

Nucleosynthesis in the Early Galaxy

Recent observations of r-process-enriched metal-poor star abundances reveal a non-uniform abundance pattern for elements $Z\leq47$. Based on non-correlation trends between elemental abundances as a function of Eu-richness in a large sample of metal-poor stars, it is shown that the mixing of a consistent and robust light element primary process (LEPP) and the r-process pattern found in r-II metal-poor stars explains such apparent non-uniformity. Furthermore, we derive the abundance pattern of the LEPP from observation and show that it is consistent with a missing component in the solar abundances when using a recent s-process model. As the astrophysical site of the LEPP is not known, we explore the possibility of a neutron capture process within a site-independent approach. It is suggested that scenarios with neutron densities $n_{n}\leq10^{13}$ $cm^{-3}$ or in the range $n_{n}\geq10^{24}$ $cm^{-3}$ best explain the observations.

astro-ph

Tuning the Clock: Uranium and Thorium Chronometers Applied to CS 31082-001

We obtain age estimates for the progenitor(s) of the extremely metal-poor ([Fe/H = -2.9) halo star CS 31082-001, based on the recently reported first observation of a Uranium abundance in this (or any other) star. Age estimates are derived by application of the classical r-process model with updated nuclear physics inputs. The [U/Th] ratio yields an age of 13+-4 Gyr or 8+-4 Gyr, based on the use of the ETFSI-Q or the new HFBCS-1 nuclear mass models, respectively. Implications for Thorium chronometers are discussed.

astro-ph