[Triumf-seminars] TRIUMF Theory Seminar today at 13:00

[TRIUMF Seminars]

Date/Time: Tue 2020-10-06 at 13:00

Location:  Remote              

Speaker:   Nicole Vassh (Notre Dame)

Title:     New diagnostics to expose the nature of lanthanide and actinide production in astrophysical events

Abstract: The heaviest elements observed in nature are understood to be synthesized by the rapid neutron capture process (r process), but which astrophysical site(s) host the conditions capable of reaching these species remains an open question. Although the electromagnetic emission from the merger of binary neutron stars has been able to provide observational evidence for the synthesis of lanthanides, whether such events produce heavier elements such as gold, platinum, and the actinides remains uncertain. We will review recent work aiming to identify signatures of fission in astrophysical events which, if observed, would reveal that neutron star merger events can synthesize not only the fissioning actinides but lighter elements such as platinum. Understanding the effects of fission in the r process however requires knowledge of the fission properties of nuclei on the neutron-rich side of stability, about which little is experimentally known. We will explore the potential for future experimental and theoretical efforts to refine our knowledge of fission and lanthanide production in the r process. For instance, an enhancement in lanthanide production seen in solar data, the r-process rare-earth abundance peak, could be intimately linked to nuclear structure features which may be able to be probed at upcoming experimental facilities. We will examine this possibility in the context of a statistical approach utilizing Markov Chain Monte Carlo which seeks to find conditions capable of producing a rare-earth peak consistent with both observational and experimental data. Since the nucleosynthetic outcome depends on the properties of the exotic nuclei populated in astrophysical events, studying the r-process signatures of actinide and lanthanide species permits theory, experiment, and observation to inform one another. 

Connection info:

https://bluejeans.com/712666151
Meeting ID: 712 666 151



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