arXiv subjects

R. Surman

Publications and source records attributed to R. Surman.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

arXiv2016

The link between rare earth peak formation and the astrophysical site of the $r$ process

The primary astrophysical source of the rare earth elements is the rapid neutron capture process ($r$ process). The rare earth peak that is seen in the solar $r$-process residuals has been proposed to originate as a pile-up of nuclei during the end of the $r$ process. We introduce a new method utilizing Monte Carlo studies of nuclear masses in the rare earth region, that includes self-consistently adjusting $β$-decay rates and neutron capture rates, to find the mass surfaces necessary for the formation of the rare earth peak. We demonstrate our method with two types of astrophysical scenarios, one corresponding conditions typical of core-collapse supernova winds and one corresponding to conditions typical of the ejection of the material from the tidal tails of neutron star mergers. In each type of astrophysical conditions, this method successfully locates a region of enhanced stability in the mass surface that is responsible for the rare earth peak. For each scenario, we find that the change in the mass surface has qualitatively different features, thus future measurements can shed light on the type of environment in which the $r$ process occurred.

nucl-th↗

arXiv2015

The black hole spin influence on accretion disk neutrino detection

Neutrinos are copiously emitted from black hole accretion disks playing a fundamental role in their evolution, as well as in the production of gamma ray bursts and r-process nucleosynthesis. The black hole generates a strong gravitational field able to change the properties of the emerging neutrinos. We study the influence of the black hole spin on the structure of the neutrino surfaces, neutrino luminosities, average neutrino energies, and event counts at SuperK. We consider several disk models and provide estimates that cover different black hole efficiency scenarios. We discuss the influence of the detector's inclination with respect to the axis of the torus on neutrino properties. We find that tori around spinning black holes have larger luminosities, energies and rates compared to tori around static black holes, and that the inclination of the observer causes a reduction in the luminosities and detection rates but an increase in the average energies.

nucl-th↗

arXiv2015

The impact of individual nuclear properties on $r$-process nucleosynthesis

The astrophysical rapid neutron capture process or `$r$ process' of nucleosynthesis is believed to be responsible for the production of approximately half the heavy element abundances found in nature. This multifaceted problem remains one of the greatest open challenges in all of physics. Knowledge of nuclear physics properties such as masses, $β$-decay and neutron capture rates, as well as $β$-delayed neutron emission probabilities are critical inputs that go into calculations of $r$-process nucleosynthesis. While properties of nuclei near stability have been established, much still remains unknown regarding neutron-rich nuclei far from stability that may participate in the $r$ process. Sensitivity studies gauge the astrophysical response of a change in nuclear physics input(s) which allows for the isolation of the most important nuclear properties that shape the final abundances observed in nature. This review summarizes the extent of recent sensitivity studies and highlights how these studies play a key role in facilitating new insight into the $r$ process. The development of these tools promotes a focused effort for state-of-the-art measurements, motivates construction of new facilities and will ultimately move the community towards addressing the grand challenge of `How were the elements from iron to uranium made?'.

nucl-th↗

arXiv2015

Symmetric and Standard Matter-Neutrino Resonances Above Merging Compact Objects

Matter-neutrino resonances (MNR) can occur in environments where the flux of electron antineutrinos is greater than the flux of electron neutrinos. These resonances may result in dramatic neutrino flavor transformation. Compact object merger disks are an example of an environment where electron antineutrinos outnumber neutrinos. We study MNR resonances in several such disk configurations and find two qualitatively different types of matter-neutrino resonances: a standard MNR and a symmetric MNR. We examine the transformation that occurs in each type of resonance and explore the consequences for nucleosynthesis.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2015

The impact of individual nuclear masses on $r$-process abundances

We have performed for the first time a comprehensive study of the sensitivity of $r$-process nucleosynthesis to individual nuclear masses across the chart of nuclides. Using the latest version (2012) of the Finite-Range Droplet Model, we consider mass variations of $\pm0.5$ MeV and propagate each mass change to all affected quantities, including $Q$-values, reaction rates, and branching ratios. We find such mass variations can result in up to an order of magnitude local change in the final abundance pattern produced in an $r$-process simulation. We identify key nuclei whose masses have a substantial impact on abundance predictions for hot, cold, and neutron star merger $r$-process scenarios and could be measured at future radioactive beam facilities.

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arXiv2014

The impact of global nuclear mass model uncertainties on $r$-process abundance predictions

Rapid neutron capture or `$r$-process' nucleosynthesis may be responsible for half the production of heavy elements above iron on the periodic table. Masses are one of the most important nuclear physics ingredients that go into calculations of $r$-process nucleosynthesis as they enter into the calculations of reaction rates, decay rates, branching ratios and Q-values. We explore the impact of uncertainties in three nuclear mass models on $r$-process abundances by performing global monte carlo simulations. We show that root-mean-square (rms) errors of current mass models are large so that current $r$-process predictions are insufficient in predicting features found in solar residuals and in $r$-process enhanced metal poor stars. We conclude that the reduction of global rms errors below $100$ keV will allow for more robust $r$-process predictions.

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arXiv2014

Nuclear masses near $N=82$ that influence $r$-process abundances

Nuclear masses are one of the key ingredients of nuclear physics that go into astrophysical simulations of the $r$ process. Nuclear masses effect $r$-process abundances by entering into calculations of Q-values, neutron capture rates, photo-dissociation rates, beta-decay rates, branching ratios and the properties of fission. Most of the thousands of short-lived neutron-rich nuclei which are believed to participate in the $r$ process lack any experimental verification, thus the identification of the most influential nuclei is of paramount importance. We have conducted mass sensitivity studies near the $N=82$ closed shell in the context of a main $r$-process. Our studies take into account how an uncertainty in a single nuclear mass propagates to influence the relevant quantities of neighboring nuclei and finally to $r$-process abundances. We identify influential nuclei in various astrophysical conditions using the FRDM mass model. We show that our conclusions regarding these key nuclei are still retained when a superposition of astrophysical trajectories is considered.

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arXiv2014

Neutrinos and the synthesis of heavy elements: the role of gravity

The synthesis of heavy elements in the Universe presents several challenges. From one side the astrophysical site is still undetermined and on other hand the input from nuclear physics requires the knowledge of properties of exotic nuclei, some of them perhaps accessible in ion beam facilities. Black hole accretion disks have been proposed as possible r-process sites. Analogously to Supernovae these objects emit huge amounts of neutrinos. We discuss the neutrino emission from black hole accretion disks. In particular we show the influence that the black hole strong gravitational field has on changing the electron fraction relevant to the synthesis of elements.

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arXiv2014

The impact of nuclear masses near $N=82$ on $r$-process abundances

We have performed for the first time a complete $r$-process mass sensitivity study in the $N=82$ region. We take into account how an uncertainty in a single nuclear mass propagates to influence important quantities of neighboring nuclei, including Q-values and reaction rates. We demonstrate that nuclear mass uncertainties of $\pm0.5$ MeV in the $N=82$ region result in up to an order of magnitude local change in $r$-process abundance predictions. We identify key nuclei in the study whose mass has a substantial impact on final $r$-process abundances and could be measured at future radioactive beam facilities.

nucl-th↗

arXiv2013

Production of Nickel-56 in black hole-neutron star merger accretion disk outflows

The likely outcome of a compact object merger event is a central black hole surrounded by a rapidly accreting torus of debris. This disk of debris is a rich source of element synthesis, the outcome of which is needed to predict electromagnetic counterparts of individual events and to understand the contribution of mergers to galactic chemical evolution. Here we study disk outflow nucleosynthesis in the context of a two-dimensional, time-dependent black hole-neutron star merger accretion disk model. We use two time snapshots from this model to examine the impact of the evolution of the neutrino fluxes from the disk on the element synthesis. While the neutrino fluxes from the early-time disk snapshot appear to favor neutron-rich outflows, by the late-time snapshot the situation is reversed. As a result we find copious production of Nickel-56 in the outflows.

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2013

Sensitivity studies for r-process nucleosynthesis in three astrophysical scenarios

In rapid neutron capture, or r-process, nucleosynthesis, heavy elements are built up via a sequence of neutron captures and beta decays that involves thousands of nuclei far from stability. Though we understand the basics of how the r-process proceeds, its astrophysical site is still not conclusively known. The nuclear network simulations we use to test potential astrophysical scenarios require nuclear physics data (masses, beta decay lifetimes, neutron capture rates, fission probabilities) for all of the nuclei on the neutron-rich side of the nuclear chart, from the valley of stability to the neutron drip line. Here we discuss recent sensitivity studies that aim to determine which individual pieces of nuclear data are the most crucial for r-process calculations. We consider three types of astrophysical scenarios: a traditional hot r-process, a cold r-process in which the temperature and density drop rapidly, and a neutron star merger trajectory.

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arXiv2013

Neutron capture rates and r-process nucleosynthesis

Simulations of r-process nucleosynthesis require nuclear physics information for thousands of neutron-rich nuclear species from the line of stability to the neutron drip line. While arguably the most important pieces of nuclear data for the r-process are the masses and beta decay rates, individual neutron capture rates can also be of key importance in setting the final r-process abundance pattern. Here we consider the influence of neutron capture rates in forming the A~80 and rare earth peaks.

nucl-th↗

arXiv2013

The sensitivity of r-process nucleosynthesis to the properties of neutron-rich nuclei

About half of the heavy elements in the Solar System were created by rapid neutron capture, or r-process, nucleosynthesis. In the r-process, heavy elements are built up via a sequence of neutron captures and beta decays in which an intense neutron flux pushes material out towards the neutron drip line. The nuclear network simulations used to test potential astrophysical scenarios for the r-process therefore require nuclear physics data (masses, beta decay lifetimes, neutron capture rates, fission probabilities) for thousands of nuclei far from stability. Only a small fraction of this data has been experimentally measured. Here we discuss recent sensitivity studies that aim to determine the nuclei whose properties are most crucial for r-process calculations.

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arXiv2012

Sensitivity of the r-process to nuclear masses

The rapid neutron capture process (r-process) is thought to be responsible for the creation of more than half of all elements beyond iron. The scientific challenges to understanding the origin of the heavy elements beyond iron lie in both the uncertainties associated with astrophysical conditions that are needed to allow an r-process to occur and a vast lack of knowledge about the properties of nuclei far from stability. There is great global competition to access and measure the most exotic nuclei that existing facilities can reach, while simultaneously building new, more powerful accelerators to make even more exotic nuclei. This work is an attempt to determine the most crucial nuclear masses to measure using an r-process simulation code and several mass models (FRDM, Duflo-Zuker, and HFB-21). The most important nuclear masses to measure are determined by the changes in the resulting r-process abundances. Nuclei around the closed shells near N=50, 82, and 126 have the largest impact on r-process abundances irrespective of the mass models used.

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arXiv2012

Neutrino oscillations above black hole accretion disks: disks with electron-flavor emission

Black hole accretion disks can form through the collapse of rotating massive stars. These disks produce large numbers of neutrinos and antineutrinos of electron flavor that can influence energetics and nucleosynthesis. Neutrinos are produced in sufficient numbers that, after they are emitted, they can undergo flavor transformation facilitated by the neutrino self interaction. We show that some of the neutrino flavor transformation phenomenology for accretion disks is similar to that of the supernova case, but also, we find the disk geometry lends itself to different transformation behaviors. These transformations strongly influence the nucleosynthetic outcome of disk winds.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2012

The Rare Earth Peak : An Overlooked r-Process Diagnostic

The astrophysical site or sites responsible for the r-process of nucleosynthesis still remains an enigma. Since the rare earth region is formed in the latter stages of the r-process it provides a unique probe of the astrophysical conditions during which the r-process takes place. We use features of a successful rare earth region in the context of a high entropy r-process (S>100k_B) and discuss the types of astrophysical conditions that produce abundance patterns that best match meteoritic and observational data. Despite uncertainties in nuclear physics input, this method effectively constrains astrophysical conditions.

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2011

Beta-decay of nuclei around Se-90. Search for signatures of a N=56 sub-shell closure relevant the r-process

Nuclear structure plays a significant role on the rapid neutron capture process (r-process) since shapes evolve with the emergence of shells and sub-shells. There was some indication in neighboring nuclei that we might find examples of a new N=56 sub-shell, which may give rise to a doubly magic Se-90 nucleus. Beta-decay half lives of nuclei around Se-90 have been measured to determine if this nucleus has in fact a doubly-magic character. The fragmentation of Xe-136 beam at the National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory at Michigan State University was used to create a cocktail of nuclei in the A=90 region. We have measured the half lives of twenty-two nuclei near the r-process path in the A=90 region. The half lives of As-88 and Se-90 have been measured for the first time. The values were compared with theoretical predictions in the search for nuclear-deformation signatures of a N=56 sub-shell, and its possible role in the emergence of a potential doubly-magic Se-90. The impact of such hypothesis on the synthesis of heavy nuclei, particularly in the production of Sr, Y and Zr elements was investigated with a weak r-process network. The new half lives agree with results obtained from a standard global QRPA model used in r-process calculations, indicating that Se-90 has a quadrupole shape incompatible with a closed N=56 sub-shell in this region. The impact of the measured Se-90 half-life in comparison with a former theoretical predication associated with a spherical half-life on the weak-r-process is shown to be strong.

nucl-ex↗

arXiv2011

Nucleosynthesis of Nickel-56 from Gamma-Ray Burst Accretion Disks

We examine the prospects for producing Nickel-56 from black hole accretion disks, by examining a range of steady state disk models. We focus on relatively slowly accreting disks in the range of 0.05 - 1 solar masses per second, as are thought to be appropriate for the central engines of long-duration gamma-ray bursts. We find that significant amounts of Nickel-56 are produced over a wide range of parameter space. We discuss the influence of entropy, outflow timescale and initial disk position on mass fraction of Nickel-56 which is produced. We keep careful track of the weak interactions to ensure reliable calculations of the electron fraction, and discuss the role of the neutrinos.

astro-ph.HE↗