Can Neutron-Star Mergers Explain the r-process Enrichment in Globular Clusters?

Abstract

Star-to-star dispersion of r-process elements has been observed in a significant number of old, metal-poor globular clusters. We investigate early-time neutron-star mergers as the mechanism for this enrichment. Through both numerical modeling and analytical arguments, we show that neutron-star mergers cannot be induced through dynamical interactions early in the history of the cluster, even when the most liberal assumptions about neutron-star segregation are assumed. Therefore, if neutron-star mergers are the primary mechanism for r-process dispersion in globular clusters, they likely result from the evolution of isolated, primordial binaries in the clusters. Through population modeling, we find that moderate fractions of GCs with enrichment are only possible when a significant number of double neutron-star progenitors proceed through Case BB mass transfer --- under various assumptions for the initial properties of globular clusters, a neutron-star merger with the potential for enrichment will occur in ~15-60% (~30-90%) of globular clusters if this mass transfer proceeds stably (unstably). The strong anti-correlation between the pre-supernova orbital separation and post-supernova systemic velocity due to mass loss in the supernova leads to efficient ejection of most enrichment candidates from their host clusters. Thus, most enrichment events occur shortly after the double neutron stars are born. This requires star-forming gas that can absorb the r-process ejecta to be present in the globular cluster 30-50 Myr after the initial burst of star formation. If scenarios for redistributing gas in globular clusters cannot act on these timescales, the number of neutron-star merger enrichment candidates drops severely, and it is likely that another mechanism, such as r-process enrichment from collapsars, is at play.

arXiv commentPublished in ApJ. 22 pages, 7 figures, 1 table

References in corpus (171)

• Astropy: A Community Python Package for Astronomy
• The Astropy Project: Building an inclusive, open-science project and status of the v2.0 core package
• On the variation of the Initial Mass Function
• Binary companions of evolved stars in APOGEE DR14: Search method and catalog of ~5,000 companions
• Multi-messenger Observations of a Binary Neutron Star Merger
• GWTC-1: A Gravitational-Wave Transient Catalog of Compact Binary Mergers Observed by LIGO and Virgo during the First and Second Observing Runs
• Collapsars - Gamma-Ray Bursts and Explosions in "Failed Supernovae"
• Evolution of binary stars and the effect of tides on binary populations
• Comprehensive analytic formulae for stellar evolution as a function of mass and metallicity
• Mass-loss predictions for O and B stars as a function of metallicity
• A statistical study of 233 pulsar proper motions
• Origin of the heavy elements in binary neutron-star mergers from a gravitational wave event
• Mind your Ps and Qs: the Interrelation between Period (P) and Mass-ratio (Q) Distributions of Binary Stars
• Young massive star clusters
• Compact Remnant Mass Function: Dependence on the Explosion Mechanism and Metallicity
• The Electromagnetic Counterpart of the Binary Neutron Star Merger LIGO/VIRGO GW170817. II. UV, Optical, and Near-IR Light Curves and Comparison to Kilonova Models
• A Comprehensive Study of Binary Compact Objects as Gravitational Wave Sources: Evolutionary Channels, Rates, and Physical Properties
• The r-process of stellar nucleosynthesis: Astrophysics and nuclear physics achievements and mysteries
• Multiple populations in globular clusters. Lessons learned from the Milky Way globular clusters
• The Emergence of a Lanthanide-Rich Kilonova Following the Merger of Two Neutron Stars
• Compact Object Modeling with the StarTrack Population Synthesis Code
• Pulsational Pair-Instability Supernovae
• Double Compact Objects I: The Significance Of The Common Envelope On Merger Rates
• Origin of the Heaviest Elements: the Rapid Neutron-Capture Process
• Formation of Double Neutron Star Systems
• Nucleosynthesis in neutrino-driven winds: I. The physical conditions
• Multiple Stellar Populations in Globular Clusters
• Comprehensive nucleosynthesis analysis for ejecta of compact binary mergers
• Binary Black Hole Mergers from Globular Clusters: Masses, Merger Rates, and the Impact of Stellar Evolution
• The Combined Ultraviolet, Optical, and Near-Infrared Light Curves of the Kilonova Associated with the Binary Neutron Star Merger GW170817: Unified Data Set, Analytic Models, and Physical Implications
• The Electromagnetic Counterpart of the Binary Neutron Star Merger LIGO/VIRGO GW170817. IV. Detection of Near-infrared Signatures of r-process Nucleosynthesis with Gemini-South
• Magnetorotationally driven Supernovae as the origin of early galaxy $r$-process elements?
• Nearby Supernova Rates from the Lick Observatory Supernova Search. III. The Rate-Size Relation, and the Rates as a Function of Galaxy Hubble Type and Colour
• The Effects of Binary Evolution on the Dynamics of Core Collapse and Neutron-Star Kicks
• On the metallicity dependence of Wolf-Rayet winds
• Internal Dynamics of Globular Clusters
• Binary Black Hole Mergers from Globular Clusters: Implications for Advanced LIGO
• R-process enrichment from a single event in an ancient dwarf galaxy
• Formation of Massive Black Holes in Dense Star Clusters. I. Mass Segregation and Core Collapse
• Collapsars as a major source of r-process elements
• Magnetar Spindown, Hyper-Energetic Supernovae, and Gamma Ray Bursts
• Delayed outflows from black hole accretion tori following neutron star binary coalescence
• Neutrino signatures and the neutrino-driven wind in Binary Neutron Star Mergers
• MOCCA-SURVEY Database I: Coalescing Binary Black Holes Originating From Globular Clusters
• Stellar Collisions During Binary-Binary and Binary-Single Star Interactions
• The Formation of Eccentric Compact Binary Inspirals and the Role of Gravitational Wave Emission in Binary-Single Stellar Encounters
• Three-dimensional GRMHD simulations of the remnant accretion disks from neutron star mergers: outflows and r-process nucleosynthesis
• Low Luminosity Gamma-Ray Bursts as a Unique Population: Luminosity Function, Local Rate, and Beaming Factor
• The Physics of Protoneutron Star Winds: Implications for r-Process Nucleosynthesis
• Merging black hole binaries: the effects of progenitor's metallicity, mass-loss rate and Eddington factor
• The Abundances of Neutron Capture Species in the Very Metal-Poor Globular Cluster M15: An Uniform Analysis of RGB and RHB Stars
• On the formation history of Galactic double neutron stars
• The effect of the metallicity-specific star formation history on double compact object mergers
• Formation and evolution of compact binaries in globular clusters: II. Binaries with neutron stars
• The Dynamical Evolution of Stellar Black Holes in Globular Clusters
• Magnetorotational Core-Collapse Supernovae in Three Dimensions
• Theoretical uncertainties of the type Ia supernova rate
• Post-Newtonian Dynamics in Dense Star Clusters: Highly-Eccentric, Highly-Spinning, and Repeated Binary Black Hole Mergers
• Post-Newtonian Dynamics in Dense Star Clusters: Formation, Masses, and Merger Rates of Highly-Eccentric Black Hole Binaries
• Relativistic neutron star merger simulations with non-zero temperature equations of state I. Variation of binary parameters and equation of state
• Eccentric Black Hole Mergers in Dense Star Clusters: The Role of Binary-Binary Encounters
• Very Low Energy Supernovae from Neutrino Mass Loss
• Neutron Star Mergers Might not be the Only Source of r-Process Elements in the Milky Way
• Estimating the Contribution of Dynamical Ejecta in the Kilonova Associated with GW170817
• The Origin of r-Process Elements in the Milky Way
• Current Status of r-Process Nucleosynthesis
• Ultra-stripped Type Ic supernovae from close binary evolution
• The Evolution of Binary Fractions in Globular Clusters
• Orbital Characteristics of Binary Systems after Asymmetric Supernova Explosions
• Charged-current weak interaction processes in hot and dense matter and its impact on the spectra of neutrinos emitted from proto-neutron star cooling
• The observed velocity distribution of young pulsars
• VLBA Measurement of Nine Pulsar Parallaxes
• Double neutron stars: merger rates revisited
• Medium modification of the charged current neutrino opacity and its implications
• Black holes and core expansion in massive star clusters
• Black hole and neutron star mergers in galactic nuclei
• Galactic evolution of rapid neutron capture process abundances: the inhomogeneous approach
• General relativistic magnetohydrodynamic simulations of binary neutron star mergers forming a long-lived neutron star
• Stellar-mass black holes in young massive and open stellar clusters and their role in gravitational-wave generation
• Neutron Star Mergers as sites of r-process Nucleosynthesis and Short Gamma-Ray Bursts
• Galactic r-process enrichment by neutron star mergers in cosmological simulations of a Milky Way-mass galaxy
• R-process Nucleosynthesis from Three-Dimensional Magnetorotational Core-Collapse Supernovae
• An abundance analysis of bright giants in the globular cluster NGC 1851
• A Comprehensive Study of Neutron Star Retention in Globular Clusters
• Monte-Carlo Simulations of Globular Cluster Evolution - I. Method and Test Calculations
• New limit of ${}^{244}$Pu on Earth points to rarity of actinide nucleosynthesis
• The $R$-Process Alliance: First Release from the Southern Search for $r$-Process-Enhanced Stars in the Galactic Halo
• Rapid Eccentricity Oscillations and the Mergers of Compact Objects in Hierarchical Triples
• The History of R-Process Enrichment in the Milky Way
• A double stellar generation in the Globular Cluster NGC6656 (M 22). Two stellar groups with different iron and s-process element abundance
• Monte Carlo Simulations of Globular Cluster Evolution. III. Primordial Binary Interactions
• Merging Neutron Stars I: Initial Results for Coalescence of Non-Corotating Systems
• Short gamma-ray bursts from binary neutron star mergers in globular clusters
• Monte Carlo Simulations of Globular Cluster Evolution. IV. Direct Integration of Strong Interactions
• Short gamma-ray bursts from dynamically-assembled compact binaries in globular clusters: pathways, rates, hydrodynamics and cosmological setting
• The R-Process Alliance: First Release from the Northern Search for r-Process Enhanced Metal-Poor Stars in the Galactic Halo
• Short-lived ${}^{244}$Pu Points to Compact Binary Mergers as Sites for Heavy r-process Nucleosynthesis
• The evolution of naked helium stars with a neutron-star companion in close binary systems
• Studying the YMC population of M83: how long clusters remain embedded, their interaction with the ISM and implications for GC formation theories
• An R-process enhanced star in the dwarf galaxy Tucana III
• Formation of Double Neutron Star systems as implied by observations
• Further Evidence for the Bimodal Distribution of Neutron Star Masses
• The Swift Gamma-Ray Burst Host Galaxy Legacy Survey - I. Sample Selection and Redshift Distribution
• MOCCA-SURVEY Database I: Galactic Globular Clusters Harbouring a Black Hole Subsystem
• The role of neutron star mergers in the chemical evolution of the Galactic halo
• Thermal Timescale Mass Transfer and the Evolution of White Dwarf Binaries
• Magnetically driven winds from differentially rotating neutron stars and X-ray afterglows of short gamma-ray bursts
• The Role of Helium Stars in the Formation of Double Neutron Stars
• Double Neutron Star Systems and Natal Neutron Star Kicks
• Abundances for a large sample of red giants in NGC 1851: hints for a merger of two clusters?
• Off-Center Carbon Ignition in Rapidly Rotating, Accreting Carbon-Oxygen White Dwarfs
• On the Conditions for Neutron-Rich Gamma-Ray Burst Outflows
• Progenitor models of the electromagnetic transient associated with the short GRB 130603B
• Massive Star cluster formation under the microscope at z=6
• The influence of the distribution of cosmic star formation at different metallicities on the properties of merging double compact objects
• On the Masses of Galaxies in the Local Universe
• Monte Carlo Simulations of Globular Cluster Evolution - II. Mass Spectra, Stellar Evolution and Lifetimes in the Galaxy
• Chemical Abundances in the Ultra-Faint Dwarf Galaxies Grus I and Triangulum II: Neutron-Capture Elements as a Defining Feature of the Faintest Dwarfs
• Forming Super Star Clusters in the Central Starburst of NGC 253
• Post-Newtonian Dynamics in Dense Star Clusters: Binary Black Holes in the LISA Band
• Constraining Globular Cluster Formation Through Studies of Young Massive Clusters: I. A lack of ongoing star formation within young clusters
• Monte Carlo Simulations of Globular Cluster Evolution. V. Binary Stellar Evolution
• GW170817$-$the first observed neutron star merger and its kilonova: implications for the astrophysical site of the r-process
• Numerical Simulations of Turbulent Molecular Clouds Regulated by Reprocessed Radiation Feedback from Nascent Super Star Clusters
• Measuring Consistent Masses for 25 Milky Way Globular Clusters
• Numerical Simulations of Turbulent, Molecular Clouds Regulated by Radiation Feedback Forces I: Star Formation Rate and Efficiency
• The effect of stellar-mass black holes on the structural evolution of massive star clusters
• A Parallel Monte Carlo Code for Simulating Collisional N-body Systems
• Millisecond Pulsars and Black Holes in Globular Clusters
• $r$-Process Nucleosynthesis from Three-dimensional Jet-driven Core-Collapse Supernovae with Magnetic Misalignments
• Metal-Poor Stars Observed with the Magellan Telescope. III. New Extremely and Ultra Metal-Poor Stars from SDSS/SEGUE and Insights on the Formation of Ultra Metal-Poor Stars
• Binary Black Hole Mergers from Globular Clusters: the Impact of Globular Cluster Properties
• Estimating Long GRB Jet Opening Angles and Rest-Frame Energetics
• Back to the Future: Estimating Initial Globular Cluster Masses from their Present Day Stellar Mass Functions
• How black holes shape globular clusters: Modeling NGC 3201
• BD +44 493: A Ninth Magnitude Messenger from the Early Universe; Carbon Enhanced and Beryllium Poor
• Young Radio Pulsars in Galactic Globular Clusters
• The massive star binary fraction in young open clusters - III. IC 2944 and the Cen OB2 association
• Constraints on Natal Kicks in Galactic Double Neutron Star Systems
• Constraining globular cluster formation through studies of young massive clusters - II. A Single Stellar Population Young Massive Cluster in NGC 34
• Primordial r-process Dispersion in Metal-Poor Globular Clusters
• Stellar Collisions and Blue Straggler Stars in Dense Globular Clusters
• The search for multiple populations in Magellanic Cloud Clusters IV: Coeval multiple stellar populations in the young star cluster NGC 1978
• Ba & Eu Abundances in M15 giant stars
• Relativistic mergers of black hole binaries have large, similar masses, low spins and are circular
• Heavy Element Dispersion in the Metal-Poor Globular Cluster M92
• Constraining Globular Cluster Formation Through Studies of Young Massive Clusters - IV. Testing the Fast Rotating Massive Star Scenario
• Neutron Star Kicks II: Revision and further testing of the conservation of momentum "kick" model
• Contribution of Neutron Star Mergers to the R-process Chemical Evolution in the Hierarchical Galaxy Formation
• Compact Stellar Binary Assembly in the First Nuclear Star Clusters and r-Process Synthesis in the Early Universe
• Simulating Neutron Star Mergers as r-process Sources in Ultra Faint Dwarf Galaxies
• Rubidium and lead abundances in giant stars of the globular clusters M 13 and NGC 6752
• Cosmic Reionization After Planck and Before JWST: An Analytic Approach
• Detailed Chemical Abundances in NGC 5824: Another Metal-Poor Globular Cluster with Internal Heavy Element Abundance Variations
• r-process enrichment of ultra-faint dwarf galaxies by fast merging double neutron stars
• Evolutionary Channels for the Formation of Double Neutron Stars
• Double Neutron Star Formation: Merger Times, Systemic Velocities, and Travel Distances
• Molecular-Cloud-Scale Chemical Composition II: Mapping Spectral Line Survey toward W3(OH) in the 3 mm Band
• Is the Escape Velocity in Star Clusters Linked to Extended Star Formation Histories? Using NGC 7252: W3 as a Test Case
• On the spatial distributions of dense cores in Orion B
• Detailed Abundances of 15 Stars in the Metal-Poor Globular Cluster NGC 4833
• Radiation pressure in super star cluster formation
• Neutron star binary orbits in their host potential: effect on early r-process enrichment
• No Heavy Element Dispersion in the Globular Cluster M92
• Constraining Collapsar r-Process Models through Stellar Abundances
• Low-mass X-ray binaries from black-hole retaining globular clusters
• On Neutron Star Mergers as the Source of r-process Enhanced Metal Poor Stars in the Milky Way
• Primordial Mass and Density Segregation in a Young Molecular Cloud
• Evolution of the Symbiotic Nova PU Vul -- Outbursting White Dwarf, Nebulae, and Pulsating Red Giant Companion
• Formation of globular clusters with internal abundance spreads in r-process elements: strong evidence for prolonged star formation
• Nucleation and stabilization of carbon-rich structures in interstellar media

Cited by in corpus (33)

• Kilonovae
• GW190521: orbital eccentricity and signatures of dynamical formation in a binary black hole merger signal
• COSMIC Variance in Binary Population Synthesis
• The expansion of stripped-envelope stars: consequences for supernovae and gravitational-wave progenitors
• On the Rate of Neutron Star Binary Mergers from Globular Clusters
• Astronuclear Physics: a Tale of the Atomic Nuclei in the Skies
• Exploring the Lower Mass Gap and Unequal Mass Regime in Compact Binary Evolution
• GW170817$-$the first observed neutron star merger and its kilonova: implications for the astrophysical site of the r-process
• Explosions Driven by the Coalescence of a Compact Object with the Core of a Massive-Star Companion Inside a Common Envelope: Circumstellar Properties, Light Curves, and Population Statistics
• On the origin of GW190425
• A deep survey of short GRB host galaxies over $z\sim 0-2$: implications for offsets, redshifts, and environments
• Modelling Double Neutron Stars: Radio and Gravitational Waves
• GRMHD simulations of neutron-star mergers with weak interactions: r-process nucleosynthesis and electromagnetic signatures of dynamical ejecta
• Observational Inference on the Delay Time Distribution of Short Gamma-ray Bursts
• A surrogate model for gravitational waveforms of spin-aligned binary black holes with eccentricities
• Heavy double neutron stars: birth, mid-life and death
• Signatures of R-process Enrichment in Supernovae from Collapsars
• The chemical composition of globular clusters in the Local Group
• Collapsar R-Process Yields Can Reproduce [Eu/Fe] Abundance Scatter in Metal-Poor Stars
• LISA and the Existence of a Fast-Merging Double Neutron Star Formation Channel
• R-process enrichment in ultrafaint dwarf galaxies
• Forward Modeling of Double Neutron Stars: Insights from Highly-Offset Short Gamma-Ray Bursts
• r-process Abundance Patterns in the Globular Cluster M92
• The Stars in M15 Were Born with the r-process
• s-process Enirchment of Ultrafaint Dwarf Galaxies
• Hydrodynamic mixing of accretion disk outflows in collapsars: implications for r-process signatures
• r-Process Nucleosynthesis and Radioactively Powered Transients from Magnetar Giant Flares
• Inference of multi-channel r-process element enrichment in the Milky Way using binary neutron star merger observations
• Astrophysics with the Laser Interferometer Space Antenna
• Internal r-process abundance spread of M15 and a single stellar population model
• Evolutionary tracks of binary neutron star progenitors across cosmic times
• Implications of low neutron star merger rates for gamma-ray bursts, r-process production and Galactic double neutron stars
• Novae breves from magnetar giant flares: Potential probes of neutron star crusts