arXiv subjects

Shinya Wanajo

Publications and source records attributed to Shinya Wanajo.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

arXiv2014

Production of all the r-process nuclides in the dynamical ejecta of neutron star mergers

Recent studies suggest that binary neutron star (NS-NS) mergers robustly produce the heavy r-process nuclei above the atomic mass number A ~ 130 because of their ejecta consisting of almost pure neutrons (electron fraction of Y_e < 0.1). However, little production of the lighter r-process nuclei (A = 90-120) conflicts with the spectroscopic results of r-process-enhanced Galactic halo stars. We present, for the first time, the result of nucleosynthesis calculations based on the fully general-relativistic simulation of a NS-NS merger with approximate neutrino transport. It is found that the bulk of the dynamical ejecta are appreciably shock-heated and neutrino-processed, resulting in a wide range of Y_e (= 0.09-0.45). The mass-averaged abundance distribution of calculated nucleosynthesis yields is in reasonable agreement with the full-mass range (A = 90-240) of the solar r-process curve. This implies, if our model is representative of such events, that the dynamical ejecta of NS-NS mergers can be the origin of the Galactic r-process nuclei. Our result also shows that the radioactive heating after ~ 1 day from the merging, giving rise to r-process-powered transient emission, is dominated by the beta-decays of several species close to stability with precisely measured half-lives. This implies that the total radioactive heating rate for such an event can be well constrained within about a factor of two if the ejected material has a solar-like r-process pattern.

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arXiv2013

Radioactively Powered Emission from Black Hole-Neutron Star Mergers

Detection of electromagnetic counterparts of gravitational wave (GW) sources is important to unveil the nature of compact binary coalescences. We perform three-dimensional, time-dependent, multi-frequency radiative transfer simulations for radioactively powered emission from the ejecta of black hole (BH) - neutron star (NS) mergers. Depending on the BH to NS mass ratio, spin of the BH, and equations of state of dense matter, BH-NS mergers can eject more material than NS-NS mergers. In such cases, radioactively powered emission from the BH-NS merger ejecta can be more luminous than that from NS-NS mergers. We show that, in spite of the expected larger distances to BH-NS merger events, observed brightness of BH-NS mergers can be comparable to or even higher than that of NS-NS mergers. We find that, when the tidally disrupted BH-NS merger ejecta are confined to a small solid angle, the emission from BH-NS merger ejecta tends to be bluer than that from NS-NS merger ejecta for a given total luminosity. Thanks to this property, we might be able to distinguish BH-NS merger events from NS-NS merger events by multi-band observations of the radioactively powered emission. In addition to the GW observations, such electromagnetic observations can potentially provide independent information on the nature of compact binary coalescences.

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arXiv2013

Progenitor models of the electromagnetic transient associated with the short GRB 130603B

An electromagnetic transient powered by the radioactive decay of r-process elements, a so-called kilonova/macronova, is one of the possible observable consequences of compact binary mergers including at east one neutron star. Recent observations strongly suggest the first discovery of the electromagnetic transient, which is associated with the short GRB 130603B. We explore a possible progenitor of this event combining the numerical-relativity simulations and radiative transfer simulations of the dynamical ejecta of binary neutron star and black hole - neutron star mergers. We show that the ejecta models within a realistic parameter range consistently reproduce the observed near-infrared excess. We also show that the soft equation of state models for binary neutron star mergers and the stiff equation of state models for black hole - neutron star mergers are favored to reproduce the observed luminosity.

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arXiv2013

Electron-capture supernovae as sources of 60Fe

We investigate the nucleosynthesis of the radionuclide 60Fe in electron-capture supernovae (ECSNe). The nucleosynthetic results are based on a self-consistent, two-dimensional simulation of an ECSN as well as models in which the densities are systematically increased by some factors (low-entropy models). 60Fe is found to be appreciably made in neutron-rich ejecta during the nuclear quasi-equilibrium phase with greater amounts being produced in the lower-entropy models. Our results, combining them with the yields of core-collapse supernovae (CCSNe) in the literature, suggest that ECSNe account for at least 4-30% of live 60Fe in the Milky Way. ECSNe co-produce neutron-rich isotopes, 48Ca, 50Ti, 54Cr, some light trans-iron elements, and possibly weak r-process elements including some radionuclides such as 93Zr, 99Tc, and 107Pd, whose association with 60Fe might have been imprinted in primitive meteorites or in the deep ocean crust on the Earth.

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arXiv2013

The r-process in proto-neutron-star wind revisited

We examine the r-process in the neutrino-driven proto-neutron-star (PNS) wind of core-collapse supernovae in light of the recent findings of massive neutron stars in binaries as well as of an indication of neutron-richness in the PNS ejecta because of the nucleon potential corrections on neutrino opacities. To this end, a spherically symmetric, general relativistic, steady-state wind model is applied for a wide range of PNS masses between 1.2 M_sun and 2.4 M_sun with the latter reaching the causality limit. Nucleosynthesis calculations with these PNS models are performed by assuming a time evolution of electron fraction with its minimal value of Y_e = 0.4, which mimics recent hydrodynamical results. The fundamental nucleosynthetic aspect of the PNS wind is found to be the production of Sr, Y and Zr in quasi-equilibrium and of the elements with A = 90-110 by a weak r-process, which can be an explanation for the abundance signatures in r-process-poor Galactic halo stars. PNSs more massive than 2.0 M_sun can eject heavy r-process elements, however, with substantially smaller amount than what is needed to account for the solar content. PNS winds can be thus the major origin of light trans-iron elements but no more than 10% of those heavier than A ~ 110, although they may be the sources of the low-level abundances of Sr and Ba found in numerous metal-poor stars if the maximum mass of PNS exceeds 2.0 M_sun.

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arXiv2013

Electron-capture supernovae as origin of 48Ca

We report that electron-capture supernovae (ECSNe), arising from collapsing oxygen-neon-magnesium cores, are a possible source of 48Ca, whose origin has remained a long-standing puzzle. Our two-dimensional, self-consistent explosion model of an ECSN predicts ejection of neutron-rich matter with electron fractions Ye = 0.40-0.42 and relatively low entropies, s = 13-15 kB per nucleon (kB is the Boltzmann constant). Post-processing nucleosynthesis calculations result in appreciable production of 48Ca in such neutron-rich and low-entropy matter during the quasi-nuclear equilibrium and subsequent freezeout phases. The amount of ejected 48Ca can account for that in the solar inventory when we consider possible uncertainties in the entropies or ejecta-mass distribution. ECSNe could thus be a site of 48Ca production in addition to a hypothetical, rare class of high-density Type Ia supernovae.

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arXiv2012

Silver and palladium help unveil the nature of a second r-process

The rapid neutron-capture process, creating about half of the heaviest elements in the Solar System was believed to be unique. Many recent studies have shown that this does not include the formation of lighter elements (in particular 38 < Z < 48). Among those, palladium (Pd) and especially silver (Ag) are expected to be key indicators of a possible second r-process, but until recently they have been studied only in a few stars. Therefore we target Pd and Ag in a large sample of stars and compare these abundances to those of Sr, Y, Zr, Ba and Eu produced by the slow (s-) and rapid (r-) neutron-capture processes. Hereby we investigate the nature of the formation process of Ag and Pd. Through a homogeneous 1D LTE analysis of 71 stars we derive stellar abundances using the spectrum synthesis code MOOG, and MARCS model atmospheres. We calculate abundance ratio trends and compare the derived abundances to site-dependent yield predictions (low mass O-Ne-Mg cc SN, and parametrised high entropy winds), to extract characteristics of the second r-process. The abundance ratios of the heavy elements yield correlations and anti-correlations. These trends lead to clear indications of the existence of a second/weak r-process, responsible for the formation of Pd and Ag. By comparing to the model predictions, we find that the conditions under which this process takes place differ from the main r-process in needing lower neutron number densities, neutron-to-seed ratios, entropies and/or favour higher electron abundances. Our analysis confirms that Pd and Ag form via a r-process that differs from the main r-process, the main and weak s-processes, and charged particle freeze-outs. This process is efficiently working down to [Fe/H] = -3.3 (where our sample ends). Our results may indicate that a combination of these explosive sites is needed to explain the observationally-derived abundance patterns.

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arXiv2011

The r-process in the neutrino-driven wind from a black-hole torus

We examine r-process nucleosynthesis in the neutrino-driven wind from the thick accretion disk (or "torus") around a black hole. Such systems are expected as emnants of binary neutron star or neutron star -- black hole mergers. We consider a simplified, analytic, time-dependent evolution model of a 3M_sun central black hole surrounded by a neutrino emitting accretion torus with 90km radius, which serves as basis for computing spherically symmetric neutrino-driven wind solutions. We find that ejecta with modest entropies (~30 per nucleon in units of the Boltzmann constant) and moderate expansion timescales (~100ms) dominate in the mass outflow. The mass-integrated nucleosynthetic abundances are in good agreement with the solar system r-process abundance distribution if a minimal value of the electron fraction at the charged-particle freezeout, Ye,min~0.2, is achieved. In the case of Ye,min~0.3, the production of r-elements beyond A~130 does not reach to the third peak but could be still important for an explanation of the abundance signatures in r-process deficient stars in the early Galaxy. The total mass of the ejected r-process nuclei is estimated to be ~1x10^-3 M_sun. If our model was representative, this demands a Galactic event rate of ~2x10^-4 yr^-1 for black-hole-torus winds from merger remnants to be the dominant source of the r-process elements. Our result thus suggests that black-hole-torus winds from compact binary mergers have the potential to be a major but probably not the dominant production site of r-process elements.

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arXiv2010

Uncertainties in the nu p-process: supernova dynamics versus nuclear physics

We examine how the uncertainties involved in supernova dynamics as well as in nuclear data inputs affect the nup-process in the neutrino-driven winds. For the supernova dynamics, we find that the wind termination by the preceding dense ejecta shell, as well as the electron fraction (Y_{e, 3}; at 3 10^9 K) play a crucial role. A wind termination within the temperature range of (1.5-3) 10^9 K greatly enhances the efficiency of the nu p-process. This implies that the early wind phase, when the innermost layer of the preceding supernova ejecta is still 200-1000 km from the center, is most relevant to the nup-process. The outflows with Y_{e, 3} = 0.52-0.60 result in the production of the p-nuclei up to A=108 with interesting amounts. Furthermore, the p-nuclei up to A=152 can be produced if Y_{e, 3} = 0.65 is achieved. For the nuclear data inputs, we test the sensitivity to the rates relevant to the breakout from the pp-chain region (A < 12), to the (n, p) rates on heavy nuclei, and to the nuclear masses along the nup-process pathway. We find that a small variation of the rates of triple-alpha and of the (n, p) reaction on 56Ni leads to a substantial change in the p-nuclei production. We also find that 96Pd (N=50) on the nup-process path plays a role as a second seed nucleus for the production of heavier p-nuclei. The uncertainty in the nuclear mass of 82Zr can lead to a factor of two reduction in the abundance of the p-isotope 84Sr.

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arXiv2010

Electron-capture supernovae as the origin of elements beyond iron

We examine electron-capture supernovae (ECSNe) as sources of elements heavier than iron in the solar system and in Galactic halo stars. Nucleosynthesis calculations are performed on the basis of thermodynamic histories of mass elements from a fully self-consistent, two-dimensional (2D) hydrodynamic explosion model of an ECSN. We find that neutron-rich convective lumps with an electron fraction down to Ye,min=0.40, which are absent in the one-dimensional (1D) counterpart, allow for interesting production of elements between the iron group and N=50 nuclei (from Zn to Zr, with little Ga) in nuclear (quasi-)equilibrium. Our models yield very good agreement with the Ge, Sr, Y, and Zr abundances of r-process deficient Galactic halo stars and constrain the occurrence of ECSNe to ~4% of all stellar core-collapse events. If tiny amounts of additional material with slightly lower Ye,min down to ~0.30-0.35 were also ejected - which presently cannot be excluded because of the limitations of resolution and two-dimensionality of the model -, a weak r-process can yield elements beyond N=50 up to Pd, Ag, and Cd as observed in the r-process deficient stars.

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arXiv2010

The r-Process in Black Hole Winds

All the current r-process scenarios relevant to core-collapse supernovae are facing severe difficulties. In particular, recent core-collapse simulations with neutrino transport show no sign of a neutron-rich wind from the proto-neutron star. In this paper, we discuss nucleosynthesis of the r-process in an alternative astrophysical site, "black hole winds", which are the neutrino-driven outflow from the accretion torus around a black hole. This condition is assumed to be realized in double neutron star mergers, neutron star - black hole mergers, or hypernovae.

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arXiv2009

Chemical Yields from Supernovae and Hypernovae

We review the final stages of stellar evolution, supernova properties, and chemical yields as a function of the progenitor's mass M. (1) 8 - 10 Ms stars are super-AGB stars when the O+Ne+Mg core collapses due to electron capture. These AGB-supernovae may constitute an SN 2008S-like sub-class of Type IIn supernovae. These stars produce little alpha-elements and Fe-peak elements, but are important sources of Zn and light p-nuclei. (2) 10 - 90 Ms stars undergo Fe-core collapse. Nucleosynthesis in aspherical explosions is important, as it can well reproduce the abundance patterns observed in extremely metal-poor stars. (3) 90 - 140 Ms stars undergo pulsational nuclear instabilities at various nuclear burning stages, including O and Si-burning. (4) 140 - 300 Ms stars become pair-instability supernovae, if the mass loss is small enough. (5) Stars more massive than 300 Ms undergo core-collapse to form intermediate mass black holes.

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arXiv2007

The r-Process in Supersonic Neutrino-Driven Winds: The Roll of Wind Termination Shock

Recent hydrodynamic studies of core-collapse supernovae imply that the neutrino-heated ejecta from a nascent neutron star develops to supersonic outflows. These supersonic winds are influenced by the reverse shock from the preceding supernova ejecta, forming the wind termination shock. We investigate the effects of the termination shock in neutrino-driven winds and its roll on the r-process. Supersonic outflows are calculated with a semi-analytic neutrino-driven wind model. Subsequent termination-shocked, subsonic outflows are obtained by applying the Rankine-Hugoniot relations. We find a couple of effects that can be relevant for the r-process. First is the sudden slowdown of the temperature decrease by the wind termination. Second is the entropy jump by termination-shock heating, up to several 100NAk. Nucleosynthesis calculations in the obtained winds are performed to examine these effects on the r-process. We find that 1) the slowdown of the temperature decrease plays a decisive roll to determine the r-process abundance curves. This is due to the strong dependences of the nucleosynthetic path on the temperature during the r-process freezeout phase. Our results suggest that only the termination-shocked winds with relatively small shock radii (~500km) are relevant for the bulk of the solar r-process abundances (A~100-180). The heaviest part in the solar r-process curve (A~180-200), however, can be reproduced both in shocked and unshocked winds. These results may help to constrain the mass range of supernova progenitors relevant for the r-process. We find, on the other hand, 2) negligible roles of the entropy jump on the r-process. This is a consequence that the sizable entropy increase takes place only at a large shock radius (~10,000km) where the r-process has already ceased.

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arXiv2007

Screening Corrections to the Electron Capture Rates in Dense Stars by the Relativistically Degenerate Electron Liquid

We calculate the screening corrections to the electron capture rates in dense stars by the relativistically degenerate electron liquid. In order to calculate the screening corrections we adopt the linear response theory which is widely used in the field of solid state physics and liquid metal physics. In particular, we use the longitudinal dielectric function for the relativistically degenerate electron liquid derived by Jancovici. We calculate the screening potential at the position of the nucleus. By using this screening potential one can calculate the screening corrections to the electron capture rates. We will present accurate analytic fitting formulae which summarize our numerical results. These fitting formulae will facilitate the application of the present results. The screening corrections to the electron capture rates are typically a few percent.

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arXiv2007

Ion-Ion Correlation Effect on the Neutrino-Nucleus Scattering in Supernova Cores

We calculate the ion-ion correlation effect on the neutrino-nucleus scattering in supernova cores, which is an important opacity source for the neutrinos and plays a vital role in the supernova explosion. In order to calculate the ion-ion correlation effect we use the results of the improved hypernetted-chain method calculations of the classical one-component plasma. As in the preceding studies on this effect, we find a dramatic decrease of the effective neutrino-nucleus scattering cross section for relatively low energy neutrinos with E < 20MeV. As a matter of fact, our calculation shows a much more dramatic reduction of the effective neutrino-nucleus scattering cross section for the low energy neutrinos with E < 10MeV than the results of Horowitz. Therefore, the ion-ion correlation effect will be more important than has hitherto been recognized. We present an accurate analytic fitting formula that summarizes our numerical results. This fitting formula will facilitate the application of the present results to the supernova explosion simulations.

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arXiv2007

Cold r-Process in Neutrino-Driven Winds

The r-process in a low temperature environment is explored, in which the neutron emission by photodisintegration does not play a role (cold r-process). A semi-analytic neutrino-driven wind model is utilized for this purpose. The temperature in a supersonically expanding outflow can quickly drop to a few 10^8 K, where the (n, gamma)-(gamma, n) equilibrium is never achieved during the heavy r-nuclei synthesis. In addition, the neutron capture competes with the beta-decay owing to the low matter density. Despite such non-standard physical conditions for the cold r-process, a solar-like r-process abundance curve can be reproduced. The cold r-process predicts, however, the low lead production compared to that expected in the traditional r-process conditions, which can be a possible explanation for the low lead abundances found in a couple of r-process-rich Galactic halo stars.

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arXiv2007

Neutron-capture elements in the very metal-poor star HD88609: another st ar with excesses of light neutron-capture elements

We obtained a high resolution, high signal-to-noise UV-blue spectrum of the extremely metal-poor red giant HD88609 to determine the abundances of heavy elements. Nineteen neutron-capture elements are detected in the spectrum. Our analysis revealed that this object has large excesses of light neutron-capture elements while heavy neutron-capture elements are deficient. The abundance pattern shows a continuously decreasing trend, as a function of atomic number, from Sr to Yb, which is quite different from those in stars with excesses of r-process elements. Such an abundance pattern is very similar to that of HD122563 that was studied by our previous work. The results indicate that the abundance pattern found in the two stars could represent the pattern produced by the nucleosynthesis process that provided light neutron-capture elements in the very early Galaxy.

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arXiv2006

The r-Process in the Proto-Neutron-Star Winds with Anisotropic Neutrino Emission

The astrophysical origin of the r-process nuclei is still unknown. Even the most promising scenario, the neutrino-driven winds from a nascent neutron star, encounters severe difficulties in obtaining requisite entropy and short dynamic timescale for the r-process. In this study, the effect of anisotropy in neutrino emission from a proto-neutron star surface is examined with semi-analytic neutrino-driven wind models. The increase of neutrino number density in the wind owing to the anisotropy is modeled schematically by enhancing the effective neutrino luminosity. It is shown that the neutrino heating rate from neutrino-antineutrino pair annihilation into electron-positron pairs can significantly increase owing to the anisotropy and play a dominant role for the heating of wind material. A factor of five increase in the effective neutrino luminosity results in 50% higher entropy and a factor of ten shorter dynamic timescale owing to this enhanced neutrino heating. The nucleosynthesis calculations show that this change is enough for the robust r-process, producing the third abundance peak A = 195 and beyond. Future multi-dimensional studies with accurate neutrino transport will be needed if such anisotropy relevant for the current scenario (more than a factor of a few) is realized during the wind phase (~1-10 s).

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