Explosive Nucleosynthesis: What we learned and what we still do not understand

TL;DR

This review summarizes the history, current understanding, and ongoing challenges in explosive nucleosynthesis, covering nuclear inputs, modeling tools, stellar environments, and galactic evolution.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive overview of the development and current state of explosive nucleosynthesis research, highlighting recent advances and remaining uncertainties.

Findings

Comparison of early and modern nucleosynthesis models

Identification of key nuclear reaction uncertainties

Insights into the role of explosive sites in galactic evolution

Abstract

This review touches on historical aspects, going back to the early days of nuclear astrophysics, initiated by B$^2$FH and Cameron, discusses (i) the required nuclear input from reaction rates and decay properties up to the nuclear equation of state, continues (ii) with the tools to perform nucleosynthesis calculations and (iii) early parametrized nucleosynthesis studies, before (iv) reliable stellar models became available for the late stages of stellar evolution. It passes then through (v) explosive environments from core-collapse supernovae to explosive events in binary systems (including type Ia supernovae and compact binary mergers), and finally (vi) discusses the role of all these nucleosynthesis production sites in the evolution of galaxies. The focus is put on the comparison of early ideas and present, very recent, understanding.