Studies in nucleosynthesis and nuclear astrophysics are highly interdisciplinary, encompassing such fields as nuclear physics, stellar structure and evolution, hydrostatics and hydrodynamics, differential equations for following isotopic abundance changes in stellar plasmas and in the interstellar medium, and astronomical observations. Essentials of Nucleosynthesis and Theoretical Nuclear Astrophysics brings together the theoretical aspects of these topics in a single volume, providing the necessary mathematical tools and equations with unified notation to enable studying nucleosynthesis in a variety of astrophysical sites. Essential definitions and theory are presented that will enable the reader to enter the research field with the familiarity of the specialities and specific problems. Useful as a reference work for any researcher in the field of nucleosynthesis and nuclear astrophysics, or a suitable basis for a graduate course on these topics, the book also provides the information necessary to follow discussions of current open questions in the understanding of the origin of the elements.
Key Features
- Offers a concise summary of the most important concepts and equations related to nucleosynthesis and theoretical nuclear astrophysics
- Presents the essential definitions and approaches to help those entering this interdisciplinary field
- Provides the information necessary to follow discussions of current open questions in the understanding of the origin of the elements
Author(s): Thomas Rauscher
Series: AAS-IOP Astronomy
Publisher: IOP Publishing
Year: 2020
Language: English
Pages: 450
City: Bristol
PRELIMS.pdf
Preface
About the Author
Thomas Rauscher
Symbols
Physical Constants
Unit Conversions
CH001.pdf
Chapter 1 Basic Properties of Stars and the Stellar Plasma
1.1 Introduction
1.2 Blackbody Radiation and Luminosity
1.3 Abundances and Mass Fractions
1.4 Further Thermodynamic Relations
1.5 Equations-of-state for Stellar Plasmas
1.5.1 Thermodynamic Derivation
1.5.2 Ideal (Maxwell–Boltzmann) Gas
1.5.3 Photon Gas
1.5.4 Degenerate Fermi Gas
1.5.5 Ultra-relativistic Gas
1.6 Basics of Scattering
1.6.1 Interaction Cross Sections
1.6.2 Mean Free Path and Random Walk
1.7 Spin, Parity, and Selection Rules in Quantum Mechanics
Further Reading
CH002.pdf
Chapter 2 Stellar Models
2.1 Introduction
2.2 Hydrostatic Equations of Stellar Structure
2.3 Barotropic and Polytropic EOS
2.4 Lane–Emden Equations
2.5 Properties of White Dwarfs
2.5.1 Mass–Radius Relation
2.5.2 More General Chandrasekhar Masses
2.6 Mixture of Gas and Radiation in Hydrostatic Equilibrium
2.6.1 Contributions of the Plasma Components
2.6.2 Pressure Domains in the ρ–T Diagram
2.7 Energy Transport in Stars
2.7.1 Energy Balance in a Mass Shell
2.7.2 Radiation
2.7.3 Conduction
2.7.4 Convection
2.8 Convective and Diffusive Matter Transport
2.9 Complete Equations for the Hydrostatic Model
2.9.1 Virial Theorem
2.9.2 Typical Timescales
2.9.3 Numerical Solution of the Hydrostatic Equations
Further Reading
CH003.pdf
Chapter 3 Nuclear Physics for Astrophysics
3.1 Introduction
3.2 Nuclear Radii and Masses
3.3 The Independent-particle Model and the Nuclear Shell Model
3.3.1 Independent-particle Model
3.3.2 Time-independent Schrödinger Equation
3.3.3 Nuclear Shell Model
3.3.4 Residual Interaction
3.4 Excited States and the Nuclear Level Density
3.5 Introduction to Nuclear Scattering
3.6 Reaction Cross Sections
3.6.1 Total Reaction Cross Section from Nuclear Scattering
3.6.2 Reaction Energetics
3.6.3 Reciprocity Theorem
3.6.4 Shape-elastic Resonances
3.7 Introduction to Reaction Theory
3.7.1 Compound Reactions
3.7.2 Direct Reactions
3.7.3 Cluster Models
3.8 Barrier Penetration: α-Decay and Nuclear Fission
3.9 β-Decay and Electron Capture
Further Reading
CH004.pdf
Chapter 4 Abundance Changes in Astrophysical Plasmas
4.1 Astrophysical Reaction Rates
4.1.1 Introduction
4.1.2 Two-body Rates for Interacting Nuclei
4.1.3 Stellar Effects on Reaction Cross Sections and Rates
4.1.4 Electronic Plasma Effects
4.1.5 Reactions with Photons
4.1.6 Reactions with Leptons
4.1.7 Decay Rates, Half-lives, and Lifetimes
4.1.8 Reaction Flow and Energy Generation
4.2 Nuclear Reaction Networks
4.2.1 Definition
4.2.2 Simple Example
4.2.3 Solution Methods
4.2.4 Parameterization of Reaction Rates
4.3 Simplification of Reaction Networks due to Equilibria
4.3.1 Introduction
4.3.2 Nuclear Statistical (Quasi-)Equilibrium
4.3.3 Capture Equilibria
4.3.4 Steady Flow
Further Reading
CH005.pdf
Chapter 5 Introduction
CH006.pdf
Chapter 6 Stellar Evolution
Further Reading
CH007.pdf
Chapter 7 Hydrostatic Burning Phases
7.1 Introduction
7.2 Hydrogen Burning
7.2.1 pp-Chains
7.2.2 CNO-cycles
7.2.3 Solar Neutrinos
7.3 Helium Burning
7.3.1 Reactions
7.3.2 He-shell Flashes
7.4 Carbon Burning
7.5 Neon Burning
7.6 Oxygen Burning
7.7 Silicon Burning
Further Reading
CH008.pdf
Chapter 8 Origin of the Elements Beyond Fe
8.1 Introduction
8.2 The s-Process
8.2.1 The Classical Model
8.2.2 Branchings in the s-Process Path
8.3 The r-Process
8.3.1 The Classical r-Process
8.3.2 Dynamical r-Process Calculations
8.3.3 Identifying the r-Process Site
8.4 The p-Nuclides
8.4.1 Properties
8.4.2 The γ-Process
8.5 The i-Process
Further Reading
CH009.pdf
Chapter 9 Explosive Nucleosynthesis
9.1 General Considerations
9.2 Classification of High-energy Phenomena
9.3 Core-collapse Supernovae
9.3.1 The Core Collapse and Formation of a Neutron Star
9.3.2 Artificial Explosions
9.3.3 Nucleosynthesis in the Neutrino Wind and the νp-Process
9.3.4 Explosive Shell Burning
9.4 Explosive Burning in Binary Systems
9.4.1 The Roche Lobes
9.4.2 Novae
9.4.3 Type Ia Supernovae (Thermonuclear Supernovae)
9.4.4 Nuclear Burning on the Surface of Neutron Stars
9.4.5 Neutron-star Merger and the Structure of Neutron Stars
Further Reading
CH010.pdf
Chapter 10 Primordial Nucleosynthesis
10.1 Introduction
10.2 Measured Primordial Abundances
10.3 The Early Universe
10.3.1 Equations for the Expanding Universe
10.3.2 Evolution until the Nucleosynthesis Epoch
10.4 Standard Big Bang Nucleosynthesis (SBBN)
Further Reading
CH011.pdf
Chapter 11 Galactic Origin of the Elements
11.1 Production Sites
11.2 Galactic Chemical Evolution Models
11.3 Nucleocosmochronology
Further Reading
