Production of Heavy Elements During the Explosion of a Low-Mass Neutron Star in a Close Binary

TL;DR

This paper investigates heavy element formation during the explosive disruption of a low-mass neutron star in a close binary, highlighting differences from equal-mass mergers and calculating resulting element abundances.

Contribution

It introduces a new scenario for heavy element nucleosynthesis involving low-mass neutron star explosions in binary systems, differing from previous merger models.

Findings

Heavy elements are produced during the explosion of a low-mass neutron star.

The element abundances depend on initial binary conditions.

The process differs significantly from equal-mass neutron star mergers.

Abstract

The nucleosynthesis of heavy elements in the scenario for the evolution of a close binary of neutron stars differing greatly in mass is considered. In contrast to the scenario for the merger of two neutron stars of comparable masses considered repeatedly in the literature, the evolution of such a binary at the final stage consists in a rapid mass transfer to the more massive star and an explosive disruption of the low-mass component. We provide the details of the explosion and calculate the abundances of the heavy elements produced in this process for various initial conditions.