arXiv subjects

Toshitaka Kajino

Publications and source records attributed to Toshitaka Kajino.

At least 127 records · Page 7Linked to original sources

arXiv2009

New Constraints on Radiative Decay of Long-Lived Particles in Big Bang Nucleosynthesis with New $^4$He Photodisintegration Data

A recent measurement of $^4$He photodisintegration reactions, $^4$He($γ$,$p$)$^3$H and $^4$He($γ$,$n$)$^3$He with laser-Compton photons shows smaller cross sections than those estimated by other previous experiments at $E_γ\lesssim 30$ MeV. We study big-bang nucleosynthesis with the radiative particle decay using the new photodisintegration cross sections of $^4$He as well as previous data. The sensitivity of the yields of all light elements D, T, $^3$He, $^4$He, $^6$Li, $^7$Li and $^7$Be to the cross sections is investigated. The change of the cross sections has an influence on the non-thermal yields of D, $^3$He and $^4$He. On the other hand, the non-thermal $^6$Li production is not sensitive to the change of the cross sections at this low energy, since the non-thermal secondary synthesis of $^6$Li needs energetic photons of $E_γ\gtrsim 50$ MeV. The non-thermal nucleosynthesis triggered by the radiative particle decay is one of candidates of the production mechanism of $^6$Li observed in metal-poor halo stars (MPHSs). In the parameter region of the radiative particle lifetime and the emitted photon energy which satisfies the $^6$Li production above the abundance level observed in MPHSs, the change of the photodisintegration cross sections at $E_γ\lesssim 30$ MeV as measured in the recent experiment leads to $\sim 10$% reduction of resulting $^3$He abundance, whereas the $^6$Li abundance does not change for this change of the cross sections of $^4$He($γ$,$p$)$^3$H and $^4$He($γ$,$n$)$^3$He. The $^6$Li abundance, however, could show a sizable change and therefore the future precise measurement of the cross sections at high energy $E_γ\gtrsim$ 50 MeV is highly required.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2009

Empirical Abundance Scaling Laws and Implications for the Gamma-Process in Core-Collapse Supernovae

Analyzing the solar system abundances, we have found two empirical abundance scaling laws concerning the p- and s-nuclei with the same atomic number. The first scaling is s/p ratios are almost constant over a wide range of the atomic number, where the p-nculei are lighter than the s-nuclei by two or four neutrons. The second scaling is p/p ratios are almost constant, where the second $p$-nuclei are lighter than the first p-nucleus by two neutrons. These scalings are a piece of evidence that most p-nuclei are dominantly synthesized by the gamma-process in supernova explosions. The scalings lead to a novel concept of "universality of gamma-process" that the s/p and p/p ratios of nuclei produced by individual gamma-processes are almost constant, respectively. We have calculated the ratios by gamma-process based on core-collapse supernova explosion models under various astrophysical conditions and found that the scalings hold for materials produced by individual gamma-processes independent of the astrophysical conditions assumed. The universality originates from three mechanisms: the shifts of the gamma-process layers to keep their peak temperature, the weak s-process in pre-supernovae, and the independence of the s/p ratios of the nuclear reactions. The results further suggest an extended universality that the s/p ratios in the gamma-process layers are not only constant but also centered on a specific value of 3. With this specific value and the first scaling, we estimate that the ratios of $s$-process abundance contributions from the AGB stars to the massive stars are almost 6.7 for the $s$-nuclei of A > 90. We find that large enhancements of s/p ratios for Ce, Er, and W are a piece of evidence that the weak s-process actually occurred before SNe.

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2009

138La-138Ce-136Ce nuclear cosmochronometer of supernova neutrino process

The 138La (T1/2=102 Gyr) - 138Ce - 136Ce system is proposed to be used as a nuclear cosmochronometer for measuring the time elapsed from a supernova neutrino process. This chronometer is applied to examine a sample affected by a single nucleosynthesis episode as presolar grains in primitive meteorites. A feature of this chronometer is to evaluate the initial abundance ratio of 136Ce/138Ce using an empirical scaling law, which was found in the solar abundances. We calculate the age of the sample as a function of isotopic ratios, 136Ce/138Ce, and 138La/138Ce, and evaluate the age uncertainty due to theoretical and observational errors. It is concluded that this chronometer can work well for a sample with the abundance ratio of 138La/138Ce >= 20 when the ratios of 136Ce/138Ce and 138La/138Ce are measured within the uncertainty of 20%. The availability of such samples becomes clear in recent studies of the presolar grains. We also discuss the effect of the nuclear structure to the neutrino process origin of 138La.

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2008

Constraints on the Primordial Magnetic Field from $σ_8$

A primordial magnetic field (PMF) can affect the evolution of density field fluctuations in the early universe.In this paper we constrain the PMF amplitude $B_λ$ and power spectral index $n_\mathrm{B}$ by comparing calculated density field fluctuations with observational data, i.e. the number density fluctuation of galaxies.We show that the observational constraints on cosmological density fluctuations, as parameterized by $σ_8$, lead to strong constraints on the amplitude and spectral index of the PMF.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2008

Neutrino mass effects on vector and tensor CMB anisotropies in the presence of a primordial magnetic field

If a primordial magnetic field (PMF) is present during photon decoupling and afterward, a finite neutrino mass can affect all modes of the CMB. In this work, we expand on earlier studies of the scalar mode effects by constructing the vector and tensor mode equations in the presence of massive neutrinos and a PMF. We compute the power spectrum of the various modes in an illustrative example and find that the neutrino mass can significantly affect the vector and tensor modes when a PMF exists, while the effects are negligible for no PMF. The most prominent result of the present analysis is the behavior of the EE component of the tensor mode at low multipoles. For massive neutrinos the EE mode can become comparable to the observed primary anisotropy. Therefore, if and when the EE mode power spectrum is measured at low multipoles the possibility exists to place a strong constraint on the sum of the neutrino masses.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2008

The X^- Solution to the ^6Li and ^7Li Big Bang Nucleosynthesis Problems

The $^6$Li abundance observed in metal poor halo stars appears to exhibit a plateau as a function of metallicity similar to that for $^7$Li, suggesting a big bang origin. However, the inferred primordial abundance of $^6$Li is $\sim$1000 times larger than that predicted by standard big bang nucleosynthesis for the baryon-to-photon ratio inferred from the WMAP data. Also, the inferred $^7$Li primordial abundance is 3 times smaller than the big bang prediction. We here describe in detail a possible simultaneous solution to both the problems of underproduction of $^6$Li and overproduction of $^7$Li in big bang nucleosynthesis. This solution involves a hypothetical massive, negatively-charged leptonic particle that would bind to the light nuclei produced in big bang nucleosynthesis, but would decay long before it could be detected. We consider only the $X$-nuclear reactions and assume that the effect of decay products is negligible, as would be the case if lifetime were large or the mass difference between the charged particle and its daughter were small. An interesting feature of this paradigm is that, because the particle remains bound to the existing nuclei after the cessation of the usual big bang nuclear reactions, a second longer epoch of nucleosynthesis can occur among $X$-nuclei. We confirm that reactions in which the hypothetical particle is transferred can occur that greatly enhance the production of $^6$Li while depleting $^7$Li. We also identify a new reaction that destroys large amounts of $^7$Be, and hence reduces the ultimate $^7$Li abundance. Thus, big-bang nucleosynthesis in the presence of these hypothetical particles, together with or without an event of stellar processing, can simultaneously solve the two Li abundance problems.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2008

Effects of a Primordial Magnetic Field on Low and High Multipoles of the CMB

The existence of a primordial magnetic field (PMF) would affect both the temperature and polarization anisotropies of the cosmic microwave background (CMB). It also provides a plausible explanation for the possible disparity between observations and theoretical fits to the CMB power spectrum. Here we report on calculations of not only the numerical CMB power spectrum from the PMF, but also the correlations between the CMB power spectrum from the PMF and the primary curvature perturbations. We then deduce a precise estimate of the PMF effect on all modes of perturbations. We find that the PMF affects not only the CMB TT and TE modes on small angular scales, but also on large angular scales. The introduction of a PMF leads to a better fit to the CMB power spectrum for the higher multipoles, and the fit at lowest multipoles can be used to constrain the correlation of the PMF with the density fluctuations for large negative values of the spectral index. Our prediction for the BB mode for a PMF average field strength $|B_λ| =4.0$ nG is consistent with the upper limit on the BB mode deduced from the latest CMB observations. We find that the BB mode is dominated by the vector mode of the PMF for higher multipoles. We also show that by fitting the complete power spectrum one can break the degeneracy between the PMF amplitude and its power spectral index.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2007

A Simultaneous Solution to the ^6Li and ^7Li Big Bang Nucleosynthesis Problems from a Long-Lived Negatively-Charged Leptonic Particle

The $^6$Li abundance observed in metal poor halo stars exhibits a plateau similar to that for $^7$Li suggesting a primordial origin. However, the observed abundance of $^6$Li is a factor of $10^3$ larger and that of $^7$Li is a factor of 3 lower than the abundances predicted in the standard big bang when the baryon-to-photon ratio is fixed by WMAP. Here we show that both of these abundance anomalies can be explained by the existence of a long-lived massive, negatively-charged leptonic particle during nucleosynthesis. Such particles would capture onto the synthesized nuclei thereby reducing the reaction Coulomb barriers and opening new transfer reaction possibilities, and catalyzing a second round of big bang nucleosynthesis. This novel solution to both of the Li problems can be achieved with or without the additional effects of stellar destruction.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2006

Primordial magnetic field constrained from CMB anisotropies,and its generation and evolution before, during and after the BBN

The primordial magnetic field (PMF) can strongly affect the cosmic microwave background (CMB) power spectrum and the formation of large scale structure. In this presentation, we calculate the CMB temperature anisotropies generated by including a power-law magnetic field at the photon last scattering surface (PLSS). We then deduce an upper limit on the primordial magnetic field based upon our theoretical analysis of the power excess on small angular scales. We have taken into account several important effects such as the modified matter sound speed in the presence of a magnetic field. An upper limit to the field strength of $|B_λ|\lesssim$ 4.7 nG at the present scale of 1 Mpc is deduced. This is obtained by comparing the calculated theoretical result including the Sunyaev-Zeldovich (SZ) effect with recent observed data on the small scale CMB anisotropies from the Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe (WMAP), the Cosmic Background Imager (CBI) and the Arcminute Cosmology Bolometer Array Receiver (ACBAR). We discuss several possible mechanisms for the generation and evolution of the PMF before, during and after the BBN.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2006

Neutrino Nucleus Reactions based on New Shell Model Hamiltonians

A new shell model Hamiltonian for p-shell nuclei which properly takes into account important roles of spin-isospin interactions is used to obtain cross sections of neutrino-^12C reactions induced by decay-at-rest (DAR) neutrinos as well as supernona neutrinos. Branching ratios to various decay channels are calculated by the Hauser-Feshbach theory. Neutrino-^4He reactions are also investigated by using recent shell model Hamiltonians. The reaction cross sections are found to be enhanced for both ^12C and ^4He compared with previous calculations. As an interesting consequence of this, a possible enhancement of the production yields of light elements, ^7Li and ^11B, during supernova explosions is pointed out.

nucl-th↗

arXiv2006

$^6$Li Production by the Radiative Decay of Long-Lived Particles

Recent spectroscopic observations of metal poor stars have indicated that both $^7$Li and $^6$Li have abundance plateaus with respect to the metallicity. Abundances of $^7$Li are about a factor three lower than the primordial abundance predicted by standard big-bang nucleosynthesis (SBBN), and $^6$Li abundances are $\sim 1/20$ of $^7$Li, whereas SBBN predicts negligible amounts of $^6$Li compared to the detected level. These discrepancies suggest that $^6$Li has another cosmological or Galactic origin than the SBBN. Furthermore, it would appear that $^7$Li (and also $^6$Li) has been depleted from its primordial abundance by some post-BBN processes. In this paper we study the possibility that the radiative decay of long-lived particles has affected the cosmological lithium abundances. We calculate the non-thermal nucleosynthesis associated with the radiative decay and explore the allowed region of the parameters specifying the properties of long-lived particles. We also impose constraints from observations of the CMB energy spectrum. We find that non-thermal nucleosynthesis produces $^6$Li at the level detected in metal poor halo stars (MPHSs), when the lifetime of the unstable particles is of the order $\sim 10^8-10^{12}$~s and their initial abundance with respect to that of the photons is $\sim (10^{-13}-10^{-12}~{\rm GeV})/E_{γ0}$, where $E_{γ0}$ is the emitted photon energy in the radiative decay. We conclude that the most likely nucleosynthetic scenario involves two different processes. First, a non-thermal cosmological nucleosynthesis associated with the radiative decay of unstable particles; and second, the stellar depletion of both of the primordial lithium isotopic abundances.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2006

Neutron-capture elements in the metal-poor globular cluster M15

We report on observations of six giants in the globular cluster M15 (NGC 7078) using the Subaru Telescope to measure neutron-capture elemental abundances. Our abundance analyses based on high-quality blue spectra confirm the star-to-star scatter in the abundances of heavy neutron-capture elements (e.g., Eu), and no significant s-process contribution to them, as was found in previous studies. We have found, for the first time, that there are anti-correlations between the abundance ratios of light to heavy neutron-capture elements ([Y/Eu] and [Zr/Eu]) and heavy ones (e.g., Eu). This indicates that light neutron-capture elements in these stars cannot be explained by only a single r-process. Another process that has significantly contributed to the light neutron-capture elements is required to have occurred in M15. Our results suggest a complicated enrichment history for M15 and its progenitor.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2005

Spectroscopic Studies of Very Metal-Poor Stars with the Subaru High Dispersion Spectrograph. III. Light Neutron-Capture Elements

Elemental abundance measurements have been obtained for a sample of 18 very metal-poor stars using spectra obtained with the Subaru Telescope High Dispersion Spectrograph. Seventeen stars, among which 16 are newly analyzed in the present work, were selected from candidate metal-poor stars identified in the HK survey of Beers and colleagues. The metallicity range covered by our sample is -3.1 ~< [Fe/H] ~< -2.4. The abundances of carbon, alpha-elements, and iron-peak elements determined for these stars confirm the trends found by previous work. One exception is the large over-abundance of Mg, Al and Sc found in BS16934--002, a giant with [Fe/H] = -2.8. By combining our new results with those of previous studies, we investigate the distribution of neutron-capture elements in very metal-poor stars, focusing on the production of the light neutron-capture elements (e.g., Sr, Y, and Zr).

astro-ph↗

arXiv2005

Constraining the Spectrum of Supernova Neutrinos from Neutrino-Process-Induced Light-Element Synthesis

We constrain energy spectra of supernova neutrinos through the avoidance of an overproduction of the 11B abundance during Galactic chemical evolution. In supernova nucleosynthesis calculations with a parametrized neutrino spectrum as a function of temperature of mu- and tau-neutrinos and their antiparticles and total neutrino energy, we find a strong neutrino temperature dependence of 11B yield. When the yield is combined with observed abundances, the acceptable range of the temperature of mu- and tau-neutrinos and their antiparticles is found to be 4.8 and 6.6 MeV. Non-zero chemical potentials would reduce this temperature range by about 10% for a degeneracy parameter smaller than 3.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2005

Nucleosynthetic signatures of the first stars

The chemically most primitive stars provide constraints on the nature of the first stellar objects that formed in the Universe; elements other than hydrogen, helium and traces of lithium within these objects were generated by nucleosynthesis in the very first stars. The relative abundances of elements in the surviving primitive stars reflect the masses of the first stars, because the pathways of nucleosynthesis are quite sensitive to stellar masses. Several models have been suggested to explain the origin of the abundance pattern of the giant star HE 0107-5240, which hitherto exhibited the highest deficiency of heavy elements known. Here we report the discovery of HE 1327-2326, a subgiant or main-sequence star with an iron abundance about a factor of two lower than that of HE 0107-5240. Both stars show extreme overabundances of carbon and nitrogen with respect to iron, suggesting a similar origin of the abundance patterns. The unexpectedly low Li and high Sr abundances of HE 1327-2326, however, challenge existing theoretical understanding: none predicts the high Sr abundance or provides a Li depletion mechanism consistent with data available for the most metal-poor stars.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2004

Supernova Neutrino Process and its Impact on the Galactic Chemical Evolution of the Light Elements

In order to resolve the overproduction problem of 11B in supernova explosions during Galactic chemical evolution, the dependence of the ejected masses of the light elements produced through the nu-process in supernova explosions on supernova neutrino parameters is investigated and constraints on the supernova neutrinos are evaluated. Detailed nucleosynthesis in a supernova explosion model corresponding to SN 1987A is calculated by postprocessing. The ejected masses of 11B and 7Li depend strongly on the temperature of mu- and tau-neutrinos and their antiparticles and are roughly proportional to the total neutrino energy. The range of temperature of mu- and -tau neutrinos and their antiparticles appropriate for the amount of 11B necessary for Galactic chemical evolution and the total neutrino energy deduced from the gravitational energy of a typical neutron star is between 4.8 MeV and 6.6 MeV. In the case of neutrino energy spectra with non-zero chemical potential, this range decreases by about 10%.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2003

Europium Isotope Ratios in s-Process-Element-Enhanced, Metal-Poor Stars: A New Probe of the 151Sm Branching

We report on the first measurement of the Eu isotope fractions (151Eu and 153Eu) in s-process-element-enhanced, metal-poor stars. We use these ratios to investigate the 151Sm branching of s-process nucleosynthesis. The measurement was made by detailed study of Eu II lines that are significantly affected by hyperfine splitting and isotope shifts in spectra of the carbon-rich, very metal-poor stars LP625-44 and CS31062-050, observed with the Subaru Telescope High Dispersion Spectrograph. The 151Eu fractions [fr(151Eu) = 151Eu/(151Eu+153Eu)] derived for LP625-44 and CS31062-050 are 0.60 and 0.55, respectively, with uncertainties of about +/- 0.05. These values are higher than found in solar-system material, but agree well with the predictions of recent s-process models. We derive new constraints on the temperature and neutron density during the s-process based on calculations of pulsed s-process models for the 151Eu fraction.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2003

r-Process Abundance Universality and Actinide Cosmochronology

We review recent observational and theoretical results concerning the presence of actinide nuclei on the surfaces of old halo stars and their use as an age determinant. We present model calculations which show that the observed universality of abundances for 56 < Z < 75 elements in these stars does not imply a unique astrophysical site for the r-process. Neither does it imply a universality of abundances of nuclei outside of this range. In particular, we show that a variety of astrophysical $r$-process models can be constructed which reproduce the same observed universal r-process curve for 56 < Z < 75 nuclei, yet have vastly different abundances for Z >= 75 and possibly Z <= 56 as well. This introduces an uncertainty into the use of the Th/Eu chronometer as a means to estimate the ages of the metal deficient stars. We do find, however, that the U/Th ratio is a robust chronometer. This is because the initial production ratio of U to Th is almost independent of the astrophysical nucleosynthesis environment. The largest remaining uncertainties in the U/Th initial production ratio are due to the input nuclear physics models.

astro-ph↗