Using stellar observations to trace the formation processes of Mo, Ru, Pd, and Ag

Camilla J. Hansen, Terese T. Hansen, Almudena Arcones, Anja C. Andersen

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Abstract

The exact formation mechanism of many heavy elements remains unknown. Models of the formation site and environment have greatly improved over the past decades, and experiments have provided new data for many of the heavy isotopes. However, much information is still missing to fully describe the neutron-capture formation processes and their sites. Stellar observations combined with mass spectroscopy of meteorites can help to place some of the needed constraints. This, in turn, will help to improve the models and our knowledge on the formation channels creating these heavy elements. Recent studies of Mo, Ru, Pd, and Ag showed that different processes or environments other than the main r-process (forming, e.g., Eu) are needed to explain the production (and observations) of elements with 40 < Z < 50. An observational study of Mo-Ag is presented, where stellar abundances are compared to meteoritic isotopic abundances (at metallicities [Fe/H] > -1.5) to extract information on differences or similarities in their production. Finally, the number of formation processes needed to describe the chemical composition in low metallicity stars ([Fe/H] < -2.5) is discussed.

Original languageEnglish
Article number012009
Book seriesJournal of Physics: Conference Series
Volume940
Issue number1
Number of pages5
ISSN1742-6588
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2018
Event7th Nuclear Physics in Astrophysics Conference, NPA 2015 - York, United Kingdom
Duration: 18 May 201522 May 2015

Conference

Conference7th Nuclear Physics in Astrophysics Conference, NPA 2015
Country/TerritoryUnited Kingdom
CityYork
Period18/05/201522/05/2015
SponsorCanberra, EDF, EPL, EPS, et al., Hamamatsu

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