@article{xiong2024production,
title = {Production of p-nuclei from r-process seeds: the νr-process},
author = {Xiong, Zewei and Martínez-Pinedo, Gabriel and Just, Oliver and Sieverding, Andre},
jornal = {Physical Review Letters},
volume = {132},
number = {19},
pages = {192701},
year = {2024},
doi = {10.1103/PhysRevLett.132.192701},
eprint = {2305.11050}
}
We present a new nucleosynthesis process that may take place on neutron-rich ejecta experiencing an intensive neutrino flux. The nucleosynthesis proceeds similarly to the standard r-process, a sequence of neutron-captures and beta-decays, however with charged-current neutrino absorption reactions on nuclei operating much faster than beta-decays. Once neutron capture reactions freeze-out the produced r-process neutron-rich nuclei undergo a fast conversion of neutrons into protons and are pushed even beyond the β-stability line producing the neutron-deficient p-nuclei. This scenario, which we denote as the νr-process, provides an alternative channel for the production of p-nuclei and the short-lived nucleus 92Nb. We discuss the necessary conditions posed on the astrophysical site for the νr-process to be realized in nature. While these conditions are not fulfilled by current neutrino-hydrodynamic models of r-process sites, future models, including more complex physics and a larger variety of outflow conditions, may achieve the necessary conditions in some regions of the ejecta.
