arXiv subjects

T. Kajino

Publications and source records attributed to T. Kajino.

70 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

arXiv2002

R-Process Nucleosynthesis In Neutrino-Driven Winds From A Typical Neutron Star With M = 1.4 Msun

We study the effects of the outer boundary conditions in neutrino-driven winds on the r-process nucleosynthesis. We perform numerical simulations of hydrodynamics of neutrino-driven winds and nuclear reaction network calculations of the r-process. As an outer boundary condition of hydrodynamic calculations, we set a pressure upon the outermost layer of the wind, which is approaching toward the shock wall. Varying the boundary pressure, we obtain various asymptotic thermal temperature of expanding material in the neutrino-driven winds for resulting nucleosynthesis. We find that the asymptotic temperature slightly lower than those used in the previous studies of the neutrino-driven winds can lead to a successful r-process abundance pattern, which is in a reasonable agreement with the solar system r-process abundance pattern even for the typical proto-neutron star mass Mns ~ 1.4 Msun. A slightly lower asymptotic temperature reduces the charged particle reaction rates and the resulting amount of seed elements and lead to a high neutron-to-seed ratio for successful r-process. This is a new idea which is different from the previous models of neutrino-driven winds from very massive (Mns ~ 2.0 Msun) and compact (Rns ~ 10 km) neutron star to get a short expansion time and a high entropy for a successful r-process abundance pattern. Although such a large mass is sometimes criticized from observational facts on a neutron star mass, we dissolve this criticism by reconsidering the boundary condition of the wind. We also explore the relation between the boundary condition and neutron star mass, which is related to the progenitor mass, for successful r-process.

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arXiv2002

Observational Constraints on Dark Radiation in Brane Cosmology

We analyze the observational constraints on brane-world cosmology whereby the universe is described as a three-brane embedded in a five-dimensional anti-de Sitter space. In this brane-universe cosmology, the Friedmann equation is modified by the appearance of extra terms which derive from existence of the extra dimensions. In the present work we concentrate on the ``dark radiation'' term which diminishes with cosmic scale factor as $a^{-4}$. We show that, although the observational constraints from primordial abundances allow only a small contribution when this term is positive, a much wider range of negative values is allowed. Furthermore, such a negative contribution can reconcile the tension between the observed primordial $\he4$ and D abundances. We also discuss the possible constraints on this term from the power spectrum of CMB anisotropies in the limit of negligible cosmological perturbation on the brane world. We show that BBN limits the possible contribution from dark radiation just before the nucleosynthesis epoch to lie between -65% and $+5%$ of the background photon energy density. Combining this with the CMB constraint reduces this range to between -24% and $+3.5%$ at the $2σ$ confidence level.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2002

Chemical composition of carbon-rich, very metal-poor subgiant LP625-44 observed with the Subaru/HDS

We have obtained a high resolution (R~90,000) spectrum of the carbon- and s-process-element-rich, very metal-poor ([Fe/H]=-2.7) subgiant LP625-44, as well as that of HD140283 (a metal-poor subgiant with normal abundance ratio) for comparison, with the High Dispersion Spectrograph (HDS) for the Subaru Telescope for detailed abundance study. The oxygen abundance derived from the O I triplet around 7770A is uncertain, but the excess of oxygen in LP625-44 seems remarkable (perhaps by nearly a factor 10), in comparison with that of HD140283 derived from the same lines. The Na enhancement in LP625-44 is by about a factor 50, suggesting hydrogen burning in the 22Ne-rich layer in an asymptotic giant branch star which produces the abundance pattern of this object. In our new spectrum of LP625-44, the Pb I lambda 3683A line has been detected, as well as the Pb I lambda 4057A line which has already been studied, confirming the Pb abundance (log epsilon(Pb)~1.9) derived by the previous work. The abundance ratio of s-process elements at the second peak (e.g., La, Ce and Nd) to that at the third peak (Pb) in LP 625-44 is significantly higher (by a factor 5) than that in other three s-process element-rich objects recently studied by van Eck et al.. Recent theoretical works have modeled the s-process nucleosynthesis in the radiative layer of asymptotic giant branch stars in the inter-pulse phase, and the above results means that these processes produced a large scatter in the abundance ratios. Another possiblity is that different processes (e.g., s-process nucleosynthesis during thermal pulses) have contributed to heavy elements in the early Galaxy.

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arXiv2002

Constraints on Neutrino Degeneracy from the Cosmic Microwave Background and Primordial Nucleosynthesis

We reanalyze the cosmological constraints on the existence of a net universal lepton asymmetry and neutrino degeneracy based upon the latest high resolution CMB sky maps from BOOMERANG, DASI, and MAXIMA-1. We generate likelihood functions by marginalizing over $(\omegab h^2,\xinumt, \xinue, Ω_Λ,h,n)$ plus the calibaration uncertainties. We consider flat $Ω_M + Ω_Λ= 1$ cosmological models with two identical degenerate neutrino species, $\xinumt \equiv \vert \xinum \vert = \vert \xinut \vert$ and a small $\xinue$. We assign weak top-hat priors on the electron-neutrino degeneracy parameter $\xinue$ and $Ω_b h^2$ based upon allowed values consistent with the nucleosynthesis constraints as a function of $\xinumt$. The change in the background neutrino temperature with degeneracy is also explicitly included, and Gaussian priors for $h = 0.72 \pm 0.08$ and the experimental calibration uncertainties are adopted. The marginalized likelihood functions show a slight (0.5$σ$) preference for neutrino degeneracy. Optimum values with two equally degenerate $μ$ and $τ$ neutrinos imply $\xinumt = 1.0^{+0.8 (1σ)}_{-1.0 (0.5σ)}$, from which we deduce $ξ_{ν_e} = 0.09^{+0.15}_{-0.09}$, and $Ω_b h^2 = 0.021^{+0.06}_{- 0.002}$. The $2σ$ upper limit becomes $ \xinumt \le 2.1$, which implies $ξ_{ν_e} \le 0.30$, and $Ω_b h^2 \le 0.030$. For only a single large-degeneracy species the optimal value is $\vert \xinum \vert$ or $\vert \xinut \vert = 1.4$ with a $2σ$ upper limit of $\vert \xinum \vert$ or $\vert \xinut \vert \le 2.5$

astro-ph↗

arXiv2002

Constrainting Cosmic Quintessence

A generic feature of cosmic quintessence models is the possibility of significant energy density in the scalar field during the radiation dominated epoch. This possibility is even greater if the quintessence field begins in a kinetic-dominated regime, for example as might be generated at the end of "quintessential inflation." As such, these models can be constrained by primordial nucleosynthesis and the epoch of photon decoupling. Here, we analyze both kinetic dominated and power-law quintessence fields (with and without a supergravity correction). We quantify the allowed initial conditions and effective-potential parameters. We also deduce constraints on the epoch of matter creation at the end of quintessential inflation.

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arXiv2002

Universal Lepton Asymmetry: New Constraints from the Cosmic Microwave Background and Primordial Nucleosynthesis

We study the primordial nucleosynthesis and cosmic age in the presence of a net lepton asymmetry as well as baryon asymmetry. We explore a previously unnoted region of the parameter space in which very large baryon densities $0.1 \le Ω_b \le 1$ can be accommodated within the light-element constraints from primordial nucleosynthesis. This parameter space consists of $ν_μ$ and $ν_τ$ degeneracies with a small $ν_e$ degeneracy. Constraints from cosmic microwave background fluctuations are also discussed (orito00).

astro-ph↗

arXiv2002

Constraints on Cosmic Quintessence and Quintessential Inflation

Recently, attempts have been made to understand the apparent near coincidence of the present dark energy and matter energy in terms of a dynamical attractor-like solution for the evolution of a scalar field. In these models the field couples with the dominant constituent and only acts like a cosmological constant after the onset of the matter-diminated epoch. A generic feature of such solutions, however, is the possibility of significant energy density in the scalar field during the radiation-dominated epoch. This possibility is even greater if the quintessence field begins in a kinetic-dominated regime generated at the end of quintessential inflation. As such, these models can affect and be constrained by primordial nucleosynthesis and the epoch of of photon decoupling. Here, we analyze one popular form of the quintessence field (with and without a supergravity correction) and quantify constraints on the allowed initial conditions and parameters for the effective potential. We also deduce constraints on the epoch of matter creation at the end of quintessential inflation.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2001

R-Process Nucleosynthesis in Core-Collapse Supernova Explosion

We study the r-process nucleosynthesis in neutrino-driven winds of gravitational core collapse SNeII. Appropriate physical conditions are found for successful r-process nucleosynthesis, which meet with several features of heavy elements discovered recently in metal-deficient halo stars. We find also several difficulties which are not explained in the present wind models. We discuss quests for new insights in nuclear physics, astrophysics, and astronomy.

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arXiv2001

r-Process in Prompt Supernova Explosions Revisited

We reanalyze $r$-process nucleosynthesis in the neutron-rich ejecta from a prompt supernova explosion of a low-mass (11 M$_\odot$) progenitor. A pompt explosion is not yet ruled out as a possibility for low-mass supernova progenitors. Moreover, there is mounting evidence that a new $r$-process site may be required. Hence, we assume that a prompt explosion can occur and make a study of r-process nucleosynthesis in the supernova ejecta. To achieve a prompt explosion we have performed a general relativistic hydrodynamic simulation of adiabatic collapse and bounce using a relativistic nuclear-matter equation of state. The electron fraction $Y_e$ during the collapse was fixed at the initial-model value. The size of the inner collapsing core was then large enough to enable a prompt explosion to occur. Adopting the calculated trajectories of promptly ejected material, we explicitly computed the burst of neutronization due to electron captures on free protons in the photodissociated ejecta after the passage of the shock. The thermal and compositional evolution of the resulting neutron-rich ejecta originating from near the surface of proto-neutron star was obtained. These were used in nuclear reaction network calculations to evaluate the products of $r$-process nucleosynthesis. We find that, unlike earlier studies, the amount of $r$-process material ejected per supernova is quite consistent with observed galactic $r$-process abundances. Furthermore, the computed $r$-process abundances are in good agreement with Solar abundances of $r$-process elements for A$> 100$. This suggests that prompt supernovae are still a viable $r$-process site. Such events may be responsible for the abundances of the heaviest $r$-process nuclei.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2001

New Nuclear Reaction Flow during r-Process Nucleosynthesis in Supernovae: Critical Role of Light Neutron-Rich Nuclei

We study the role of light neutron-rich nuclei during r-process nucleosynthesis in supernovae. Most previous studies of the r-process have concentrated on the reaction flow of heavy unstable nuclei. Although the nuclear reaction network includes a few thousand heavy nuclei, only limited reaction flow through light-mass nuclei near the stability line has been used in those studies. However, in a viable scenario of the r-process in neutrino-driven winds, the initial condition is a high-entropy hot plasma consisting of neutrons, protons, and electron-positron pairs experiencing an intense flux of neutrinos. In such environments light-mass nuclei as well as heavy nuclei are expected to play important roles in the production of seed nuclei and r-process elements. Thus, we have extended our fully implicit nuclear reaction network so that it includes all nuclei up to the neutron drip line for Z $ \leq 10$, in addition to a larger network for Z $ \geq 10$. In the present nucleosynthesis study, we utilize a wind model of massive SNeII explosions to study the effects of this extended network. We find that a new nuclear-reaction flow path opens in the very light neutron-rich region. This new nuclear reaction flow can change the final heavy-element abundances by as much as an order of magnitude.

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arXiv2001

Neutrino Degeneracy and Decoupling: New Limits from Primordial Nucleosynthesis and the Cosmic Microwave Background

We reanalyze the cosmological constraints on the existence of a net universal lepton asymmetry and neutrino degeneracy. We show that neutrinos can begin to decouple at higher temperatures than previous estimates due to several corrections which diminish the neutrino reaction rate. These decoupled neutrinos are therefore not heated as the particle degrees of freedom change. The resultant ratio of the relic neutrino-to-photon temperatures after $e^\pm$ annihilation can then be significantly reduced by more than a factor of two from that of the standard nondegenerate ratio. This changes the expansion rate and subsequent primordial nucleosynthesis, photon decoupling, and structure formation. In particular we analyze physically plausible lepton-asymmetric models with large $ν_μ$ and $ν_τ$ degeneracies together with a moderate $ν_e$ degeneracy. We show that the nucleosynthesis by itself permits very large neutrino degeneracies $0 \le \xinum$, $\xinut \le 40$, $0 \le \xinue \le 1.4$ together with large baryon densities $0.1 \le Ω_b \h502 \le 1$ as long as some destruction of primordial lithium has occurred. We also show that structure formation and the power spectrum of the cosmic microwave background allows for the possibility of an $Ω= 1$, $Ω_Λ= 0.4$, cosmological model for which there is both significant lepton asymmetry ($| \xinum | = | \xinut | \approx 11$) and a relatively large baryon density ($Ω_b \h502 \approx 0.2$). Our best-fit neutrino-degenerate, high-baryon-content models are mainly distinguished by a suppression of the second peak in the microwave background power spectrum. This is consistent with the recent high resolution data from BOOMERANG and MAXIMA-1.

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arXiv2000

Production of 2H, 3He, and 7Li from Interactions Between Jets and Clouds

The interactions between jets of high-energy nuclei and nuclei of the surrounding medium are studied. Such interactions could be initiated by jets from active galactic nuclei interacting with surrounding cool clouds. The resulting nuclear interactions are found to produce copious amounts of 2H and 3He from the 4He nuclei. These results suggest that jets of particles from quasars could have produced anomalously high abundances in surrounding clouds of some of the nuclides usually thought to characterize big bang nucleosynthesis, specifically, the 2H seen in absorption spectra.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2000

New Detremination Method of Primordial Li Abundance

We discuss the primordial nucleosynthesis in lepton asymmetric Universe models. In order to better estimate the universal baryon-mass density parameter $Ω_b$, we try to remove the uncertainty from the theoretical prediction of primordial $^7$Li abundance. We propose a new method to determine the primordial $^7$Li by the use of isotopic abundance ratio $^7$Li/$^6$Li in the interstellar medium which exhibits the minimum effects of the stellar processes.

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arXiv1996

Reaction Rates of neutron capture by Li- and Be-isotopes

Neutron capture by neutron-rich Li- and Be-isotopes plays a role in big--bang nucleosynthesis, especially in its inhomogeneous version and in the $α$--process occurring in supernovae. New reaction rates for $^{7,8}$Li(n,$γ$)$^{8,9}$Li and $^{9,10,11}$Be(n,$γ$)$^{10,11,12}$Be have been consistently calculated using direct capture for the nonresonant part and the Breit-Wigner formula for the resonant part. The spectroscopic factors, spin/parity assignments and excitation energies of the final bound and initial resonant states have been taken from existing experimental data whenever possible. For unstable nuclei where this information is not experimentally available the shell model was used to determine these quantities.

nucl-th↗

arXiv1996

Geometrical Effects of Baryon Density Inhomogeneities on Primordial Nucleosynthesis

We discuss effects of fluctuation geometry on primordial nucleosynthesis. For the first time we consider condensed cylinder and cylindrical-shell fluctuation geometries in addition to condensed spheres and spherical shells. We find that a cylindrical shell geometry allows for an appreciably higher baryonic contribution to be the closure density ($Ω_b h_{50}^2 \la 0.2$) than that allowed in spherical inhomogeneous or standard homogeneous big bang models. This result, which is contrary to some other recent studies, is due to both geometry and recently revised estimates of the uncertainties in the observationally inferred primordial light-element abundances. We also find that inhomogeneous primordial nucleosynthesis in the cylindrical shell geometry can lead to significant Be and B production. In particular, a primordial beryllium abundance as high as [Be] = 12 + log(Be/H) $\approx -3$ is possible while still satisfying all of the light-element abundance constraints.

astro-ph↗

arXiv1993

Enhanced Heavy-Element Formation in Baryon-Inhomogeneous Big-Bang Models

We show that primordial nucleosynthesis in baryon inhomogeneous big-bang models can lead to significant heavy-element production while still satisfying all the light-element abundance constraints including the low lithium abundance observed in population II stars. The parameters which admit this solution arise naturally from the process of neutrino induced inflation of baryon inhomogeneities prior to the epoch of nucleosynthesis. These solutions entail a small fraction of baryons (\le 2\%) in very high density regions with local baryon-to-photon ratio $η^h\approx 10^{-4}$, while most baryons are at a baryon-to-photon ratio which optimizes the agreement with light-element abundances. The model would imply a unique signature of baryon inhomogeneities in the early universe, evidenced by the existence of primordial material containing heavy-element products of proton and alpha- burning reactions with an abundance of $[Z]\sim -6 to -4$.

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