The Impact of Uncertainties in Reaction Q-values on Nucleosynthesis in Type I X-Ray Bursts

Abstract

Nucleosynthesis in Type I X-ray bursts may involve up to several thousand nuclear processes. The majority of these processes have only been determined theoretically due to the lack of sufficient experimental information. Accurate reaction Q-values are essential for reliable theoretical estimates of reaction-rates. Those reactions with small Q-values (< 1 MeV) are of particular interest in these environments as they may represent waiting points for a continuous abundance flow towards heavier-mass nuclei. To explore the nature of these waiting points, we have performed a comprehensive series of post-processing calculations which examine the sensitivity of nucleosynthesis in Type I X-ray bursts to uncertainties in reaction Q-values. We discuss and list the relatively few critical masses for which measurements could better constrain the results of our studies. In particular, we stress the importance of measuring the mass of 65As to obtain an experimental Q-value for the 64Ge(p,gamma)65As reaction.

accepted for Physical Review C; table and figures added, discussion expanded

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Cited by in corpus (11)

• Dependence of X-Ray Burst Models on Nuclear Reaction Rates
• Nucleosynthesis in Type I X-ray Bursts
• Influence of Nuclear Reaction Rate Uncertainties on Neutron Star Properties Extracted From X-ray Burst Model-Observation Comparisons
• Identification of the Lowest $T=2$, $J^{\pi =}{0}^{+}$ Isobaric Analog State in ${}^{52}$Co and Its Impact on the Understanding of $\beta$-Decay Properties of ${}^{52}$Ni
• High-precision mass measurement of ${}^{56}$Cu and the redirection of the rp-process flow
• Investigation of thermonuclear ${}^{18}$Ne($\alpha$,$p$)${}^{21}$Na rate via resonant elastic scattering of ${}^{21}$Na+$p$
• Performance Improvements for Nuclear Reaction Network Integration
• Thermonuclear 42Ti(p,gamma)43V rate in type I X-ray bursts
• New ${}^{63}$Ga(p,$\gamma$)${}^{64}$Ge and ${}^{64}$Ge(p,$\gamma$)${}^{65}$As reaction rates corresponding to the temperature regime of thermonuclear X-ray bursts
• Nucleosynthesis in Type Ia Supernovae, Classical Novae, and Type I X-Ray Bursts. A Primer on Stellar Explosions
• Reevaluation of thermonuclear reaction rate of 50Fe(p,gamma)51Co