High-entropy ejections from magnetized proto-neutron star winds: implications for heavy element nucleosynthesis

TL;DR

This study uses magnetohydrodynamic simulations to show that strong magnetic fields in proto-neutron star winds can significantly enhance entropy and alter nucleosynthesis pathways, potentially explaining heavy element formation in the universe.

Contribution

It demonstrates how high magnetic fields influence proto-neutron star wind conditions, enabling conditions favorable for heavy element nucleosynthesis, a novel insight into astrophysical nucleosynthesis processes.

Findings

High magnetic fields (>10^{15} G) eject significant high-entropy matter.

Magnetized winds can produce conditions suitable for third-peak r-process nucleosynthesis.

Magnetic effects may explain observed heavy element overabundances in remnants.

Abstract

Although initially thought to be promising for production of the r-process nuclei, standard models of neutrino-heated winds from proto-neutron stars (PNSs) do not reach the requisite neutron-to-seed ratio for production of the lanthanides and actinides. However, the abundance distribution created by the r-, rp-, or $\nu p$-processes in PNS winds depends sensitively on the entropy and dynamical expansion timescale of the flow, which may be strongly affected by high magnetic fields. Here, we present results from magnetohydrodynamic simulations of non-rotating neutrino-heated PNS winds with strong dipole magnetic fields from $10^{14}-10^{16}$ G, and assess their role in altering the conditions for nucleosynthesis. The strong field forms a closed zone and helmet streamer configuration at the equator, with episodic dynamical mass ejections in toroidal plasmoids. We find dramatically enhanced entropy in these regions and conditions favorable for third-peak r-process nucleosynthesis if the wind is neutron-rich. If instead the wind is proton-rich, the conditions will affect the abundances from the $\nu p$-process. We quantify the distribution of ejected matter in entropy and dynamical expansion timescale, and the critical magnetic field strength required to affect the entropy. For $B\gtrsim10^{15}$ G, we find that $\gtrsim10^{-6}$ M$_{\odot}$ and up to $\sim10^{-5}$ M$_{\odot}$ of high entropy material is ejected per highly-magnetized neutron star birth in the wind phase, providing a mechanism for prompt heavy element enrichment of the universe. Former binary companions identified within (magnetar-hosting) supernova remnants, the remnants themselves, and runaway stars may exhibit overabundances. We provide a comparison with a semi-analytic model of plasmoid eruption and discuss implications and extensions.