Nuclear processes in astrophysics: Recent progress

Author(s)

Liccardo, V. ^[1] ; Malheiro, M. ^[1] ; Hussein, M. S. ^{[1, 2, 3]} ; Carlson, B. V. ^[1] ; Frederico, T. ^[1]

Affiliation

^[1] ITA, BR-12228900 Sao Jose Dos Campos, SP - Brazil

^[2] Univ Sao Paulo, Inst Fis, CP 66318, BR-05314970 Sao Paulo, SP - Brazil

^[3] Univ Sao Paulo, Inst Estudos Avancados, CP 72012, BR-05508970 Sao Paulo, SP - Brazil

• Document type: Review article
• Source: EUROPEAN PHYSICAL JOURNAL A; v. 54, n. 12 DEC 17 2018.
• Web of Science Citations: 4

Abstract

.The question about the origin of the elements is a fascinating one, that scientists have been trying to answer for the last seven decades. The formation of light elements in the primordial universe and heavier elements in astrophysical sources occurs through nuclear reactions. We can say that nuclear processes are responsible for the production of energy and synthesis of elements in the various astrophysical sites. Thus, nuclear reactions have a determining role in the existence and evolution of several astrophysical environments, from the Sun to the spectacular explosions of supernovae. Nuclear astrophysics attempts to address the most basic and important questions of our existence and future. There are still many issues that are unresolved, such as how stars and our Galaxy have formed and how they evolve, how and where the heaviest elements are made, what is the abundance of nuclei in the universe and what is the nucleosynthesis output of the various production processes and why the amount of lithium-7 observed is less than predicted. In this paper, we review our current understanding of the different astrophysical nuclear processes leading to the formation of chemical elements and pay particular attention to the formation of heavy elements occurring during high-energy astrophysical events. Thanks to the recent multi-messenger observation of a binary neutron star merger, which also confirmed production of heavy elements, explosive scenarios such as short gamma-ray bursts and the following kilonovae are now strongly supported as nucleosynthesis sites. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 17/05660-0 - Theoretical studies of the structure and reactions of exotic nuclei and many-body systems
• Grantee: Brett Vern Carlson
• Support type: Research Projects - Thematic Grants
• FAPESP's process: 13/17696-8 - Treatment of metals and metal alloys for aerospace application by means of high-temperature plasma immersion ion implantation
• Grantee: Rogério de Moraes Oliveira
• Support type: Regular Research Grants
• FAPESP's process: 13/26258-4 - Superdense matter in the universe
• Grantee: Manuel Máximo Bastos Malheiro de Oliveira
• Support type: Research Projects - Thematic Grants
• FAPESP's process: 16/17612-7 - Dynamics of many-body systems IV
• Grantee: Arnaldo Gammal
• Support type: Research Projects - Thematic Grants