Nucleosynthesis in O-Ne-Mg Supernovae

TL;DR

This paper investigates nucleosynthesis in O-Ne-Mg supernovae to assess their potential for r process element formation, finding no suitable conditions but overproduction of certain nuclei that could impact galactic chemical evolution.

Contribution

It provides detailed modeling of nucleosynthesis in O-Ne-Mg supernovae and evaluates their role in r process element production.

Findings

No conditions for r process nucleosynthesis in the model

Overproduction of N=50 nuclei observed

Potential implications for galactic chemical evolution

Abstract

We have studied detailed nucleosynthesis in the shocked surface layers of an Oxygen-Neon-Magnesium core collapse supernova with an eye to determining if the conditions are suitable for r process nucleosynthesis. We find no such conditions in an unmodified model, but do find overproduction of N=50 nuclei (previously seen in early neutron-rich neutrino winds) in amounts that, if ejected, would pose serious problems for galactic chemical evolution.