On the origin of the lightest Molybdenum isotopes

TL;DR

This paper investigates the origin of the lightest molybdenum isotopes in supernova ejecta, using nuclear network calculations and recent experimental data to constrain production conditions, and finds discrepancies with current models.

Contribution

It provides new constraints on supernova outflow conditions for molybdenum isotope production based on recent proton separation energy measurements.

Findings

Solar ratio of Mo92 to Mo94 cannot be achieved in current models.

Proton-rich supernova winds may not produce both isotopes exclusively.

Current supernova models may need revision to explain isotope abundances.

Abstract

We discuss implications of recent precision measurements for the Rh93 proton separation energy for the production of the lightest molybdenum isotopes in proton-rich type II supernova ejecta. It has recently been shown that a novel neutrino-induced process makes these ejecta a promising site for the production of the light molybdenum isotopes and other "p-nuclei" with atomic mass near 100. The origin of these isotopes has long been uncertain. A distinguishing feature of nucleosynthesis in neutrino-irradiated outflows is that the relative production of Mo92 and Mo94 is set by a competition governed by the proton separation energy of Rh93. We use detailed nuclear network calculations and the recent experimental results for this proton separation energy to place constraints on the outflow characteristics that produce the lightest molybdenum isotopes in their solar proportions. It is found that for the conditions calculated in recent two-dimensional supernova simulations, and also for a large range of outflow characteristics around these conditions, the solar ratio of Mo92 to Mo94 cannot be achieved. This suggests that either proton-rich winds from type II supernova do not exclusively produce both isotopes, or that these winds are qualitatively different than calculated in today's supernova models.