Can Neutron Star Mergers Alone Explain the R-process Enrichment of the Milky Way?

TL;DR

This paper updates previous models to assess whether neutron star mergers alone can account for the r-process element enrichment observed in the Milky Way, incorporating recent LIGO data and new yield estimates.

Contribution

The paper provides an updated analysis of neutron star mergers' role in galactic chemical enrichment using recent gravitational wave detections and revised r-process yields.

Findings

Neutron star mergers can significantly contribute to r-process enrichment.

Updated models align better with observed galactic abundances.

LIGO data refines merger rate estimates for chemical evolution.

Abstract

Mennekens and Vanbeveren (2014) studied the effect of double compact star mergers on the Galactic chemical enrichment of r-process elements. LIGO merger detections since 2015 and new r-process element yields as function of neutron star + neutron star and neutron star + black hole mass requires an update of the 2014 computations. The results of the update are the scope of the present paper.