The impact of (n,$\gamma$) reaction rate uncertainties of unstable isotopes on the i-process nucleosynthesis of the elements from Ba to W

TL;DR

This study investigates how uncertainties in (n,$eta$) reaction rates of unstable isotopes affect the predicted element abundances from Ba to W in the i-process nucleosynthesis, using Monte-Carlo simulations across different stellar models.

Contribution

It identifies key (n,$eta$) reactions influencing element abundances and demonstrates that one-zone models can effectively approximate multi-zone simulations for uncertainty analysis.

Findings

Uncertainties in specific (n,$eta$) reaction rates significantly impact predicted abundances.

Reducing the rate of $^{137}$Cs(n,$eta$) improves agreement with observed Ba and Pr abundances.

Temperature-dependent $eta$-decay rate uncertainties have negligible effects.

Abstract

The abundances of n-capture elements in the CEMP-r/s stars agree with predictions of intermediate n-density nucleosynthesis, at $N_\mathrm{n}\sim 10^{13}$-$10^{15} \mathrm{cm}^{-3}$, in rapidly-accreting white dwarfs (RAWDs). We have performed Monte-Carlo simulations of this i-process nucleosynthesis to determine the impact of (n,$\gamma$) reaction rate uncertainties of 164 unstable isotopes, from $^{131}$I to $^{189}$Hf, on the predicted abundances of 18 elements from Ba to W. The impact study is based on two representative one-zone models with constant values of $N_\mathrm{n} = 3.16\times 10^{14}\ \mathrm{cm}^{-3}$ and $N_\mathrm{n} = 3.16\times 10^{13}\ \mathrm{cm}^{-3}$ and on a multi-zone model based on a realistic stellar evolution simulation of He-shell convection entraining H in a RAWD model with [Fe/H]=-2.6. For each of the selected elements, we have identified up to two (n,$\gamma$) reactions having the strongest correlations between their rate variations constrained by Hauser-Feshbach computations and the predicted abundances, with the Pearson product-moment correlation coefficients $|r_\mathrm{P}| > 0.15$. We find that the discrepancies between the predicted and observed abundances of Ba and Pr in the CEMP-i star CS31062-050 are significantly diminished if the rate of $^{137}$Cs(n,$\gamma)^{138}$Cs is reduced and the rates of $^{141}$Ba(n,$\gamma)^{142}$Ba or $^{141}$La(n,$\gamma)^{142}$La increased. The uncertainties of temperature-dependent $\beta$-decay rates of the same unstable isotopes have a negligible effect on the predicted abundances. One-zone Monte-Carlo simulations can be used instead of computationally time-consuming multi-zone Monte-Carlo simulations in reaction rate uncertainty studies if they use comparable values of $N_\mathrm{n}$ (abridged).