Nuclear Astrophysics: Selected Topics

Abstract

The lectures try to summarize a few of the recent developments in nuclear astrophysics. Among those are the confirmation of the solar model and their nuclear physics input by the measurement of the solar neutrino flux by charged-current and neutral-current reactions. The various nuclear reactions of the solar hydrogen burning cycle are discussed. Another topic deals with core-collapse supernovae. Here it has been recently possible, guided by new experimental data, to calculate the essential weak-interaction rates (mainly electron capture and beta decay) during the collapse phase. These new rates have led to considerable changes in the collapse dynamics. A third topic focusses on nucleosynthesis of elements beyond iron in they stellar s-process and r-process, respectively. In particular, the understanding of the r-process will benefit significantly from future radioactive ion-beam facilities. The lectures are introduced by a general discussion of the derivation and description of the low-energy cross section at stellar conditions.