Electron capture in stars

Abstract

Electron captures on nuclei play an essential role for the dynamics of several astrophysical objects. The capture rate can be derived in perturbation theory where allowed nuclear transitions (Gamow-Teller transitions) dominate, except at the higher temperatures achieved in core-collapse supernovae where also forbidden transitions contribute significantly to the rates. There has been decisive progress in recent years in measuring Gamow-Teller (GT) strength distributions using novel experimental techniques based on charge-exchange reactions. These measurements provide not only data for the GT distributions of ground states for many relevant nuclei, but also serve as valuable constraints for nuclear models which are needed to derive the capture rates for the many nuclei, for which no data exist yet. In particular models are needed to evaluate the stellar capture rates at finite temperatures, where the capture can also occur on excited nuclear states. There has also been significant progress in recent years in the modelling of stellar capture rates. This has been made possible by advances in nuclear many-body models as well as in computer soft- and hardware. Specifically to derive reliable capture rates for core-collapse supernovae a dedicated strategy has been developed based on a hierarchy of nuclear models specifically adapted to the abundant nuclei and astrophysically conditions present at the various collapse conditions. This manuscript reviews the experimental and theoretical progress achieved recently in deriving stellar electron capture rates. It also discusses the impact these improved rates have on the various astrophysical objects. (Abridged)

arXiv comment64 pages, 24 figures, Review article submitted to Reports on Progress in Physics

References in corpus (109)

• Modules for Experiments in Stellar Astrophysics (MESA): Convective Boundaries, Element Diffusion, and Massive Star Explosions
• The Physics of Gamma-Ray Bursts
• Nucleosynthesis in Chandrasekhar Mass Models for Type Ia Supernovae and Constraints on Progenitor Systems and Burning-Front Propagation
• The Shell Model as Unified View of Nuclear Structure
• Type Ia Supernova Explosion Models
• Origin of the heavy elements in binary neutron-star mergers from a gravitational wave event
• Theory of Core-Collapse Supernovae
• The s Process: Nuclear Physics, Stellar Models, Observations
• Solar fusion cross sections II: the pp chain and CNO cycles
• Thermonuclear (type-I) X-ray bursts observed by the Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer
• Origin of the Heaviest Elements: the Rapid Neutron-Capture Process
• Shell-model calculations of stellar weak interaction rates: II. Weak rates for nuclei in the mass range A=45-65 in supernovae environment
• Solar Fusion Cross Sections
• Production of all the r-process nuclides in the dynamical ejecta of neutron star mergers
• Nuclear weak-interaction processes in stars
• Binary Neutron Star Mergers: Mass Ejection, Electromagnetic Counterparts and Nucleosynthesis
• Physics of Core-Collapse Supernovae in Three Dimensions: a Sneak Preview
• Core-Collapse Supernova Explosion Theory
• Perspectives on Core-Collapse Supernova Theory
• Shell model study of the isobaric chains A=50, A=51 and A=52
• Effective interaction for pf-shell nuclei
• Models for Type I X-Ray Bursts with Improved Nuclear Physics
• Discrepancy between experimental and theoretical $\beta$-decay rates resolved from first principles
• Supernova Neutrino Detection
• Electron capture rates on nuclei and implications for stellar core collapse
• Charged-Particle Thermonuclear Reaction Rates: II. Tables and Graphs of Reaction Rates and Probability Density Functions
• The effective g_A in the pf-shell
• Merger and Mass Ejection of Neutron-Star Binaries
• Neutrino Opacities in Nuclear Matter
• The consequences of nuclear electron capture in core collapse supernovae
• Three-dimensional GRMHD simulations of neutrino-cooled accretion disks from neutron star mergers
• An Open-Source Neutrino Radiation Hydrodynamics Code for Core-Collapse Supernovae
• Shell model calculations of stellar weak interaction rates: I. Gamow-Teller distributions and spectra of nuclei in the mass range A=45-65
• Presupernova Evolution with Improved Rates for Weak Interactions
• Hydrodynamics of core-collapse supernovae and their progenitors
• Nuclear Composition of Gamma-Ray Burst Fireballs
• The Role of Electron Captures in Chandrasekhar Mass Models for Type Ia Supernovae
• Super-AGB Stars and their role as Electron Capture Supernova progenitors
• Improved estimate of electron capture rates on nuclei during stellar core collapse
• Presupernova collapse models with improved weak-interaction rates
• Impact of weak interactions of free nucleons on the r-process in dynamical ejecta from neutron-star mergers
• Solar abundance of manganese: a case for the existence of near Chandrasekhar-mass Type Ia supernova progenitors
• Shell-model Monte Carlo studies of fp-shell nuclei
• Strong neutrino cooling by cycles of electron capture and ${\beta }^{-}$ decay in neutron star crusts
• Monte Carlo methods for the nuclear shell model
• Do electron-capture supernovae make neutron stars? First multidimensional hydrodynamic simulations of the oxygen deflagration
• Silicon Burning I: Neutronization and the Physics of Quasi-Equilibrium
• Mass ejection from disks surrounding a low-mass black hole: Viscous neutrino-radiation hydrodynamics simulation in full general relativity
• Oscillation effects on supernova neutrino rates and spectra and detection of the shock breakout in a liquid Argon TPC
• The (t,3He) and (3He,t) reactions as probes of Gamow-Teller strength
• GT strengths and electron-capture rates for pf-shell nuclei of relevance for late stellar evolution
• Determination of the Gamow-Teller Quenching Factor from Charge Exchange Reactions on 90Zr
• Estimates of Stellar Weak Interaction Rates for Nuclei in the Mass Range A=65-80
• Unblocking of the Gamow-Teller strength in stellar electron capture on neutron-rich Germanium isotopes
• The Sensitivity of Core-Collapse Supernovae to Nuclear Electron Capture
• Lev Landau and the conception of neutron stars
• Neutrino-nucleus reactions and their role for supernova dynamics and nucleosynthesis
• Remnants and ejecta of thermonuclear electron-capture supernovae: Constraining oxygen-neon deflagrations in high-density white dwarfs
• On the extraction of weak transition strengths via the (3He,t) reaction at 420 MeV
• Electron capture and beta-decay rates for sd-shell nuclei in stellar environments relevant to high density O-Ne-Mg cores
• Calculation of stellar electron-capture cross sections on nuclei based on microscopic Skyrme functionals
• Astrophysical weak-interaction rates for selected $A=20$ and $A=24$ nuclei
• Gamow-Teller strength distributions at finite temperatures and electron capture in stellar environments
• Stellar electron-capture rates calculated with the finite-temperature relativistic random-phase approximation
• Electron capture on iron group nuclei
• Nucleosynthesis in thermonuclear supernovae
• Competition of electron capture and beta-decay rates in supernova collapse
• Superburst Models for Neutron Stars with Hydrogen and Helium-Rich Atmospheres
• Missing and Quenched Gamow Teller Strength
• Discovery of an Exceptionally Strong $\beta$-Decay Transition of ${}^{20}$F and Implications for the Fate of Intermediate-Mass Stars
• Nucleosynthesis imprints from different Type Ia Supernova explosion scenarios and implications for galactic chemical evolution
• Microscopic Calculations of Weak Interaction Rates of Nuclei in Stellar Environment for A = 18 to 100
• Comparing treatments of weak reactions with nuclei in simulations of core-collapse supernovae
• Gamow-Teller strength distributions in fp-shell nuclei
• Measurement of the Gamow-Teller Strength Distribution in 58Co via the 58Ni(t,3He) reaction at 115 MeV/nucleon
• Supernova electron capture rates on odd-odd nuclei
• The Importance of Urca-process Cooling in Accreting ONe White Dwarfs
• The Effects of Variations in Nuclear Interactions on Nucleosynthesis in Thermonuclear Supernovae
• The role of weak interactions in dynamic ejecta from binary neutron star mergers
• Urca cooling pairs in the neutron star ocean and their effect on superbursts
• Gamow-Teller Unit Cross Sections for (t,3He) and (3He,t) Reactions
• Neutrino-pair emission from nuclear de-excitation in core-collapse supernova simulations
• Modification of the Brink-Axel Hypothesis for High Temperature Nuclear Weak Interactions
• Results from Shell Model Monte Carlo Studies
• LENDA, a Low Energy Neutron Detector Array for experiments with radioactive beams in inverse kinematics
• Theoretical Estimates of Stellar e-Captures. I. The half-life of 7Be in Evolved Stars
• Nuclear Input for Core-collapse Models
• Impact of New Gamow-Teller Strengths on Explosive Type Ia Supernova Nucleosynthesis
• Unblocking of stellar electron capture for neutron-rich $N=50$ nuclei at finite temperature
• Stellar electron capture rates on neutron-rich nuclei and their impact on core-collapse
• SMMC method for two-neutrino double beta decay
• Gamow-Teller transitions to 64-Cu measured using the 64-Zn(t,3-He) reaction
• Electron fraction constraints based on Nuclear Statistical Equilibrium with beta equilibrium
• Measurement of the $2^{+}\to 0^{+}$ ground-state transition in the $\beta$ decay of ${}^{20}$F
• Gamow-Teller strength for the analog transitions to the first T=1/2, J^pi=3/2- states in 13C and 13N and the implications for Type Ia supernovae
• Electron Captures on ${}^{14}\mathrm{N}$ as a Trigger for Helium Shell Detonations
• Impact of complex many-body correlations on electron capture in thermally excited nuclei around ${}^{78}$Ni
• Type Ia Supernovae keep memory of their progenitor metallicity
• Modification of magicity towards the dripline and its impact on electron-capture rates for stellar core-collapse
• Sensitivity of Type Ia supernovae to electron capture rates
• Electron Capture Strength for {60,62}Ni and {58,60,62,64}Ni(p,n){58,60,62,64}Cu reactions at 134.3 MeV
• Inelastic neutrino scattering off hot nuclei in supernova environments
• Impact of electron capture rates on nuclei far from stability on core-collapse supernovae
• Constraints for stellar electron-capture rates on ${}^{86}$Kr via the ${}^{86}$Kr($t$,${}^3$He$+\gamma$)${}^{86}$Br reaction and the implications for core-collapse supernovae
• Thermal quasiparticle random-phase approximation calculations of stellar electron capture rates with the Skyrme effective interaction
• Experimental Constraint on Stellar Electron-Capture Rates from the ${}^{88}\text{Sr}(t,{}^3\text{He}+\gamma ){}^{88}\text{Rb}$ reaction at 115 MeV/u
• Supernova Science at Spallation Neutron Sources
• Neutrino absorption by hot nuclei in supernova environments
• Sensitivity of nuclear statistical equilibrium to nuclear uncertainties during stellar core collapse

Cited by in corpus (25)

• The Science of the Einstein Telescope
• The s Process and Beyond
• Horizons: Nuclear Astrophysics in the 2020s and Beyond
• Neutrinos and nucleosynthesis of elements
• Urca Cooling in Neutron Star Crusts and Oceans: Effects of Nuclear Excitations
• Hydrodynamic Simulations of Electron-capture Supernovae: Progenitor and Dimension Dependence
• Theoretical estimate of the half-life for the radioactive ${}^{134}$Cs and ${}^{135}$Cs in astrophysical scenarios
• ${\beta }^{+}$ Gamow-Teller strengths from unstable ${}^{14}$O via the $(d,{}^2\text{He})$ reaction in inverse kinematics
• Nuclei in Core-Collapse Supernovae Engine
• Finite-temperature electron-capture rates for neutron-rich nuclei around N=50 and effects on core-collapse supernovae simulations
• Probing nuclear physics with supernova gravitational waves and machine learning
• Self-consistent calculations for atomic electron capture
• Description of ${}^{93}$Nb stellar electron-capture rates by the Projected Shell Model
• Nuclear Shell Structure in a Finite-Temperature Relativistic Framework
• Non-conservation of Lepton Numbers in the Neutrino Sector Could Change the Prospects for Core Collapse Supernova Explosions
• Supernova Preshock Neutronization Burst as a Probe of Non-Standard Neutrino Interactions
• Comparison of Electron Capture Rates in the N=50 Region using 1D Simulations of Core-collapse Supernovae
• A Vision for the Science of Rare Isotopes
• Triggering Electron Capture Supernovae: Dark Matter Effects in Degenerate White-Dwarf-like Cores of Super-Asymptotic Giant Branch Stars
• Symmetry breaking of Gamow-Teller and magnetic-dipole transitions and its restoration in calcium isotopes
• Theory of nuclear collective vibrations
• Extraction of neutron-capture cross sections on ${}^{92}$Zr using the charge-exchange Oslo method
• Resolution Study of Thermonuclear Initiation in White Dwarf Tidal Disruption Events
• Extraction of the non-spin- and spin-transfer isovector responses via the ${}^{12}\mathrm{C}{(}^{10}\mathrm{Be},{}^{10}\mathrm{B}+\gamma {)}^{12}\mathrm{B}$ reaction
• Comprehensive neutrino light curves and spectra: from pre-supernova evolution to early supernova phase