Can Neutron Star Mergers Alone Explain the R-process Enrichment of the Milky Way?

Abstract

Mennekens and Vanbeveren (2014) studied the effect of double compact star mergers on the Galactic chemical enrichment of r-process elements. LIGO merger detections since 2015 and new r-process element yields as function of neutron star + neutron star and neutron star + black hole mass requires an update of the 2014 computations. The results of the update are the scope of the present paper.

arXiv comment13 pages, 3 figures, accepted for publication in Bull. Soc. R. Sci. Liege (proceedings of "The eventful life of massive star multiples")