Heavy elements form short and long gamma-ray bursts

TL;DR

This paper discusses the connection between neutron-star mergers, gamma-ray bursts, and the synthesis of heavy elements, proposing that accretion disks in these events produce most of the Universe's heavy r-process elements, with future observations needed for verification.

Contribution

It introduces the conjecture that accretion disks in both short and long gamma-ray bursts synthesize most heavy r-process elements, linking multi-messenger observations to nucleosynthesis.

Findings

Neutron-star mergers are confirmed sources of short gamma-ray bursts.

Accretion disks in gamma-ray bursts may synthesize the majority of heavy r-process elements.

Future multi-messenger observations could test this hypothesis.

Abstract

The gravitational-wave detectors LIGO and Virgo together with their electromagnetic partner facilities have transformed the modus operandi in which we seek information about the Universe. The first ever-observed neutron-star merger---GW170817---confirmed the association of short gamma-ray bursts with neutron-star mergers and the production of heavy (r-process) elements. Based on recent theoretical and observational developments, I briefly present and discuss a conjecture, namely that compact accretion disks in both short and long gamma-ray bursts synthesize most of the heavy r-process elements in the Universe. The upcoming era of multi-messenger astronomy may allow us to verify or falsify this conjecture.