16O Rate Research Articles

Resolving the Peak of the Black Hole Mass Spectrum

Gravitational-wave (GW) detections of binary black hole (BH) mergers have begun to sample the cosmic BH mass distribution. The evolution of single stellar cores predicts a gap in the BH mass distribution due to pair-instability supernovae (PISNe). Determining the upper and lower edges of the BH mass gap can be useful for interpreting GW detections of merging BHs. We use MESA to evolve single, nonrotating, massive helium cores with a metallicity of Z = 10−5, until they either collapse to form a BH or explode as a PISN, without leaving a compact remnant. We calculate the boundaries of the lower BH mass gap for S-factors in the range S(300 keV) = (77,203) keV b, corresponding to the ±3σ uncertainty in our high-resolution tabulated 12C(α,γ)16O reaction rate probability distribution function. We extensively test temporal and spatial resolutions for resolving the theoretical peak of the BH mass spectrum across the BH mass gap. We explore the convergence with respect to convective mixing and nuclear burning, finding that significant time resolution is needed to achieve convergence. We also test adopting a minimum diffusion coefficient to help lower-resolution models reach convergence. We establish a new lower edge of the upper mass gap as M lower ≃ M ⊙ from the ±3σ uncertainty in the 12C(α, γ)16O rate. We explore the effect of a larger 3α rate on the lower edge of the upper mass gap, finding M lower ≃ M ⊙. We compare our results with BHs reported in the Gravitational-Wave Transient Catalog.

Formation of GW190521 from stellar evolution: the impact of the hydrogen-rich envelope, dredge-up, and 12C(α, γ)16O rate on the pair-instability black hole mass gap

ABSTRACT Pair-instability (PI) is expected to open a gap in the mass spectrum of black holes (BHs) between ≈40–65 and ≈120 M⊙. The existence of the mass gap is currently being challenged by the detection of GW190521, with a primary component mass of $85^{+21}_{-14}$ M⊙. Here, we investigate the main uncertainties on the PI mass gap: the 12C(α, γ)16O reaction rate and the H-rich envelope collapse. With the standard 12C(α, γ)16O rate, the lower edge of the mass gap can be 70 M⊙ if we allow for the collapse of the residual H-rich envelope at metallicity Z ≤ 0.0003. Adopting the uncertainties given by the starlib database, for models computed with the 12C(α, γ)16O rate $-1\, \sigma$, we find that the PI mass gap ranges between ≈80 and ≈150 M⊙. Stars with MZAMS > 110 M⊙ may experience a deep dredge-up episode during the core helium-burning phase, that extracts matter from the core enriching the envelope. As a consequence of the He-core mass reduction, a star with MZAMS = 160 M⊙ may avoid the PI and produce a BH of 150 M⊙. In the $-2\, {}\sigma {}$ case, the PI mass gap ranges from 92 to 110 M⊙. Finally, in models computed with 12C(α, γ)16O $-3\, {}\sigma {}$, the mass gap is completely removed by the dredge-up effect. The onset of this dredge-up is particularly sensitive to the assumed model for convection and mixing. The combined effect of H-rich envelope collapse and low 12C(α, γ)16O rate can lead to the formation of BHs with masses consistent with the primary component of GW190521.

The Importance of the 13C(α,n)16O Reaction in Asymptotic Giant Branch Stars

Abstract Low-mass asymptotic giant branch stars are among the most important polluters of the interstellar medium. In their interiors, the main component (A ≳ 90) of the slow neutron capture process (the s-process) is synthesized, the most important neutron source being the 13C(α,n)16O reaction. In this paper, we review its current experimental status, discussing possible future synergies between some experiments currently focused on the determination of its rate. Moreover, in order to determine the level of precision needed to fully characterize this reaction, we present a theoretical sensitivity study, carried out with the FUNS evolutionary stellar code and the NEWTON post-process code. We modify the rate up to a factor of 2 with respect to a reference case. We find that variations of the 13C(α,n)16O rate do not appreciably affect s-process distributions for masses above 3 M ⊙ at any metallicity. Apart from a few isotopes, in fact, the differences are always below 5%. The situation is completely different if some 13C burns in a convective environment: this occurs in FUNS models with M < 3 M ⊙ at solar-like metallicities. In this case, a change of the 13C(α,n)16O reaction rate leads to nonnegligible variations of the element surface distribution (10% on average), with larger peaks for some elements (such as rubidium) and neutron-rich isotopes (such as 86Kr and 96Zr). Larger variations are found in low-mass, low-metallicity models if protons are mixed and burned at very high temperatures. In this case, the surface abundances of the heavier elements may vary by more than a factor of 50.

Formation of high mass X-ray black hole binaries

The discrepancy in the past years of many more black-hole soft X-ray transients (SXTs), of which a dozen have now been identified, had challenged accepted wisdom in black hole evolution. Reconstruction in the literature of high-mass X-ray binaries has required stars of up to ∼40 M ⊙ to evolve into low-mass compact objects, setting this mass as the limit often used for black hole formation in population syntheses. On the other hand, the sheer number of inferred SXTs requires that many, if not most, stars of ZAMS masses 20–35 M ⊙ end up as black holes ( Portegies Zwart et al., 1997; Ergma and van den Heuvel, 1998). In this paper we show that this can be understood by challenging the accepted wisdom that the result of helium core burning in a massive star is independent of whether the core is covered by a hydrogen envelope, or ‘naked’ while it burns. The latter case occurs in binaries when the envelope of the more massive star is transferred to the companion by Roche Lobe overflow while in either main sequence or red giant stage. For solar metallicity, whereas the helium cores which burn while naked essentially never go into high-mass black holes, those that burn while clothed do so, beginning at ZAMS mass ∼20 M ⊙ , the precise mass depending on the 12C( α, γ) 16O rate as we outline. In this way the SXTs can be evolved, provided that the H envelope of the massive star is removed only following the He core burning. Whereas this scenario was already outlined in 1998 by Brown et al. [NewA 4 (1999) 313], their work was based on evolutionary calculations of Woosley et al. [ApJ 448 (1995) 315] which employed wind loss rates which were too high. In this article we collect results for lower, more correct wind loss rates, finding that these change the results only little. We go into the details of carbon burning in order to reconstruct why the low Fe core masses from naked He stars are relatively insensitive to wind loss rate. The main reason is that without the helium produced by burning the hydrogen envelope, which is convected to the carbon in a clothed star, a central 12C abundance of ∼1/3 remains unburned in a naked star following He core burning. The later convective burning through 12C+ 12C reactions occurs at a temperature T∼80 keV. Finally, we show that in order to evolve a black hole of mass ≳10 M ⊙ such as observed in Cyg X-1, even employing extremely massive progenitors of ZAMS mass ≳60 M ⊙ for the black hole, the core must be covered by hydrogen during a substantial fraction of the core burning. In other words, the progenitor must be a WNL star. We evolve Cyg X-1 in an analogous way to which the SXTs are evolved, the difference being that the companion in Cyg X-1 is more massive than those in the SXTs, so that Cyg X-1 shines continuously.

Present experimental constraints on the total S-factor of 12C(α,γ) 16O and proposals for future experiments

Because of the critical importance of the 12 C 16 O ratio resulting from helium burning to the later evolution of massive stars, R-matrix fits have been made to the available angular distribution data from radiative α-capture and elastic α-scattering on 12C to estimate the total 12C(α,γ) 16O rate at stellar energies. Largely primary data, i.e. energy-dependent differential cross sections, are used in the analysis with all relevant partial waves being fitted simultaneously (surface fits). It is shown that while the E1 part of the reaction is well constrained by a recent experiment on the β-delayed α-particle decay of 16N only upper limits can be placed on the E2 ground state transition which we take conservatively as S E2 (300) <140keV b. Monte-Carlo simulations were subsequently carried out to explore what kind of future data could lead to better restrictions on S E2 (300). We find that improved elastic scattering data may be the best candidate for such restrictions while improving S(300) with new radiative capture data seems to be much more difficult.

Nucleosynthesis in type II supernovae

Presupernova evolution and explosive nucleosynthesis in massive stars for main-sequence masses from 13 M ⊙ to 70 M ⊙ are calculated. We examine the dependence of the supernova yields on the stellar mass, 12C(α, γ) 16O rate, and explosion energy. The supernova yields integrated over the initial mass function are compared with the solar abundances.

Analysis of the total 12C( alpha, gamma )16O cross section based on available angular distributions and other primary data.

Because a knowledge of the 12C/16O ratio is crucial to the understanding of the later evolution of massive stars, new R- and K-matrix fits have been completed using the available angular distribution data from radiative α capture and elastic α scattering on 12C. Estimates of the total 12C(α,γ)16O rate at stellar energies are reported. In contrast with previous work, the analyses generally involve R- and K-matrix fits directly to the primary data, i.e., the energy- and angle-dependent differential yields, with all relevant partial waves fitted simultaneously (referred to here as surface fits). It is shown that, while the E1 part of the reaction is well constrained by a recent experiment on the β-delayed α-particle decay of 16N, only upper limits can be placed on the E2 ground state cross section factor which we take conservatively as SE2(300)<140 keV b. Simulations were then carried out to explore what kind of new data could lead to better restrictions on SE2(300). We find that improved elastic scattering data may be the best short-term candidate for such restrictions while significantly improving S(300) with new radiative capture data may require a longer-term effort. Theoretical models and estimates from α-transfer reactions for the E2 part of 12C(α,γ)16O are then discussed for comparison with the R- and K-matrix fits of the present work.

Supernova Nucleosynthesis in Massive Stars

Presupernova evolution and explosive nucleosynthesis in massive stars for main-sequence masses from 13 Mʘ to 70 Mʘ are calculated. We examine the dependence of the supernova yields on the stellar mass, 12C(α, γ)16O rate, and explosion energy. The supernova yields integrated over the initial mass function are compared with the solar abundances.

The core helium flash and surface abundance anomalies

view Abstract Citations (38) References (31) Co-Reads Similar Papers Volume Content Graphics Metrics Export Citation NASA/ADS The Core Helium Flash and Surface Abundance Anomalies Deupree, Robert G. ; Wallace, Richard K. Abstract Four core helium flash calculations of varying intensity have been performed. All four flash models mixed residue nuclear species of the core helium flash into and above the hydrogen shell. The peak temperatures for these four flash calculations are 7.4, 8.3, 9.2, and 10.2×108K, the last being about the highest temperature that can be expected without disrupting the entire core. Two other calculations were performed with the recently revised 12C(α,γ)16O rate (Caughlan et al.). The authors focus on the amount and types of nuclear species mixed into and above the hydrogen shell and discuss what surface abundance anomalies the core helium flash can (and cannot) be expected to explain. Publication: The Astrophysical Journal Pub Date: June 1987 DOI: 10.1086/165319 Bibcode: 1987ApJ...317..724D Keywords: B Stars; Giant Stars; Helium; Hydrogen; Nuclear Fusion; Stellar Cores; Stellar Evolution; Stellar Interiors; Stellar Temperature; Astrophysics; NUCLEOSYNTHESIS; STARS: ABUNDANCES; STARS: INTERIORS full text sources ADS | data products SIMBAD (5)

Yields of Nucleosynthesis from massive and intermediate mass stars and constraints on their final evolution

Nucleosynthetic yields and production rates of helium and heavy elements are derived using new initial mass functions which take into account the recent revisions in O star counts and the stellar models of Maeder (1981a, b) which incorporate the effects of massloss on evolution. The current production rates are significantly higher than the earlier results due to Chiosi & Caimmi (1979) and Chiosi (1979), and a near-uniform birthrate operating over the history of the galactic disc explains the currently observed abundances. However, the yields are incompatibly high, and to obtain agreement it is necessary to assume that stars above a certain mass do not explode but proceed to total collapse. Further confirmation of this idea comes from the consideration of the specific yields and production rates of oxygen, carbon and iron and the constraints imposed by the observational enrichment history in the disc as discussed by Twarog & Wheeler (1982). Substantial amounts of4He and14C, amongst the primary synthesis species, are contributed by the intermediate mass stars in their wind phases. If substantial numbers of them exploded as Type I SN, their contribution to the yields of12C and56Fe would be far in excess of the requirements of galactic nucleosynthesis. Either efficient massloss precludes such catastrophic ends for these stars, or the current stellar models are sufficiently in error to leave room for substantial revisions in the specific yields. The proposed upward revision of the12C (α,γ)16O rate may produce the necessary changes in stellar yields to provide a solution to this problem. Stars that produce most of the metals in the Galaxy are the same ones that contribute most to the observed supernova rate.