MSc Thesis Presentation - An exploration of r-process abundance ratios from neutron star mergers compared to observed stellar abundances
Date and Time
Location
Summerlee Science Complex Room 1511
Details
MSc Candidate
Stephanie Ciccone
Abstract
Neutron star mergers are an ideal environment for rapid (r-process) neutron captures to take place that lead to the production of neutron-rich nuclei far from stable isotopes. This is one encouraging site to investigate when trying to establish where the heaviest elements in our Solar System and beyond have come from. Here we explore the element abundances from mergers predicted by rprocess nucleosynthesis calculations through the testing of various mass models, fission yields, and astrophysical conditions. Our calculations utilize several distinct hydrodynamic simulations, some of which make use of more than 1000 tracer particles. We consider elemental abundance ratios involving the key indicators Barium, Lanthanum, and Europium, ultimately aiming to investigate the spread in these ratios that the r-process can accommodate. Further, we compared to stellar data, drawn from literature results compiled by JINAbase, for metal-poor stars. This work has allowed us to gain a better understanding about the production of elemental abundances in the universe and to further test the expected bounds of known nucleosynthesis processes.
Examination Committee
- Dr. Eric Poisson, Chair
- Dr. Liliana Caballero, Advisor
- Dr. Ralf Gellert, Advisory Committee
- Dr. Nicole Vassh, Advisory Committee