Uncertainties In Reaction Rates Research Articles

Nuclear physics uncertainties in neutrino-driven, neutron-rich supernova ejecta

Neutrino-driven ejecta in core collapse supernovae (CCSNe) offer an interesting astrophysical scenario where lighter heavy elements between Sr and Ag can be synthesized. Previous studies emphasized the important role that ($\alpha,n$) reactions play in the production of these elements, particularly in neutron-rich and alpha-rich environments. In this paper, we have investigated the sensitivity of elemental abundances to specific ($\alpha,n$) reaction-rate uncertainties under different astrophysical conditions. Following a Monte Carlo nucleosynthesis study with over 36 representative astrophysical wind conditions, we have identified the most important reactions based on their impact on the final elemental abundances. Experimental studies of these reactions will reduce the nucleosynthesis uncertainties and make it possible to use observations to understand the origin of lighter heavy elements and the astrophysical conditions where they are formed.

Asymptotic normalization coefficients from transfer reactions and R -matrix analysis of direct capture in the Ne22(p,γ)Na23 reaction

The $^{22}$Ne(p,$\gamma$)$^{23}$Na reaction in NeNa cycle plays an important role in the production of only stable sodium isotope $^{23}$Na. This nucleus is processed by the NeNa cycle during hot bottom burning (HBB) in asymptotic giant branch (AGB) stage of low metallicity intermediate mass stats (4 M$_O$ $\leq$ M $\leq$ 6 M$_O$). Recent measurements have addressed the uncertainty in the thermonuclear reaction rate of this reaction at relevant astrophysical energies through the identification of low lying resonances at E$_p$ = 71,105, 156.2, 189.5 and 259.7 keV. In addition, precise measurements of low energy behaviour of the non-resonant capture has also been performed and the contribution of the sub-threshold resonance at 8664 keV excitation in $^{23}$Na has been established. Here, in this article, we have presented a systematic R-matrix analysis of direct capture to the bound states and the decay of the sub-threshold resonance at 8664 keV to the ground state of $^{23}$Na. A finite range distorted wave Born approximation (FRDWBA) calculation has been performed for $^{22}$Ne($^3$He,d)$^{23}$Na transfer reaction data to extract the asymptotic normalization coeeficients (ANC-s) required to estimate the non-resonant capture cross sections or astrophysical S-factor values in R-matrix analysis. Simultaneous R-matrix analysis constrained with ANC-s from transfer calculation reproduced the astrophysical S-factor data over a wide energy window. The S$_{tot}^{DC}$(0) = 48.8$\pm$9.5 keV.b compares well with the result of Ferraro, {\it et al.} and has a lower uncertainty. The resultant thermonuclear reaction is slightly larger in 0.1 GK $\le$ T $\le$ 0.2 GK temperature range but otherwise in agreeent with Ferraro, {\it et al.}.

The impact of (n,γ) reaction rate uncertainties on the predicted abundances of i-process elements with 32 ≤ Z ≤ 48 in the metal-poor star HD94028

ABSTRACT Several anomalous elemental abundance ratios have been observed in the metal-poor star HD94028. We assume that its high [As/Ge] ratio is a product of a weak intermediate (i) neutron-capture process. Given that observational errors are usually smaller than predicted nuclear physics uncertainties, we have first set-up a benchmark one-zone i-process nucleosynthesis simulation results of which provide the best fit to the observed abundances. We have then performed Monte Carlo simulations in which 113 relevant (n,γ) reaction rates of unstable species were randomly varied within Hauser–Feshbach model uncertainty ranges for each reaction to estimate the impact on the predicted stellar abundances. One of the interesting results of these simulations is a double-peaked distribution of the As abundance, which is caused by the variation of the 75Ga (n,γ) cross-section. This variation strongly anticorrelates with the predicted As abundance, confirming the necessity for improved theoretical or experimental bounds on this cross-section. The 66Ni (n,γ) reaction is found to behave as a major bottleneck for the i-process nucleosynthesis. Our analysis finds the Pearson product–moment correlation coefficient rP > 0.2 for all of the i-process elements with 32 ≤ Z ≤ 42, with significant changes in their predicted abundances showing up when the rate of this reaction is reduced to its theoretically constrained lower bound. Our results are applicable to any other stellar nucleosynthesis site with the similar i-process conditions, such as Sakurai’s object (V4334 Sagittarii) or rapidly accreting white dwarfs.

Retraction: The Nucleosynthesis and Reaction Rates of Fluorine 19 (19 F) in the Sun (J. Phys.: Conf. Ser. 1258 012024)

This article has been retracted by IOP Publishing following an allegation of plagiarism. IOP Publishing has investigated in line with the COPE guidelines and has discovered that there are significant, unattributed similarities with a number of earlier publications by different authors [1-4]. The evidence gathered by IOP Publishing to date considerably reduces confidence in the work to the extent that IOP Publishing has made the decision to retract the work. IOP Publishing wishes to credit the anonymous whistleblower for bringing the issue to our attention. The authors disagree with this retraction. [1] H. N. Li et al, (2013), ‘FLUORINE ABUNDANCES OF GALACTIC LOW-METALLICITY GIANTS’. The Astrophysical Journal, Volume 765, Number 1 https://doi.org/10.1088/0004-637X/765/1/51 [2] M Lugaro et al, (2004), ‘Reaction Rate Uncertainties and the Production of 19F in Asymptotic Giant Branch Stars’. The Astrophysical Journal, Volume 615, Number 2 https://doi.org/10.1086/424559 [3] G. Meynet, M. Arnould, (2000), ‘Synthesis of 19F in Wolf-Rayet stars’. Astronomy and Astrophysics, 355, 176-180 https://doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.astro-ph/0001170 [4] K Cunha et al, (2003), ‘Fluorine Abundances in the Large Magellanic Cloud and ω Centauri: Evidence for Neutrino Nucleosynthesis?’ The Astronomical Journal, Volume 126, Number 3 https://doi.org/10.1086/377023 Retraction published: 11 November 2024

Uncertainties in νp-process nucleosynthesis from Monte Carlo variation of reaction rates

ABSTRACT It has been suggested that a νp-process can occur when hot, dense, and proton-rich matter is expanding within a strong flux of antineutrinos. In such an environment, proton-rich nuclides can be produced in sequences of proton captures and (n, p) reactions, where the free neutrons are created in situ by $\overline{\nu }_\mathrm{e}+\mathrm{p} {\rightarrow} \mathrm{n}+\mathrm{e}^+$ reactions. The detailed hydrodynamic evolution determines where the nucleosynthesis path turns off from N = Z line and how far up the nuclear chart it runs. In this work, the uncertainties on the final isotopic abundances stemming from uncertainties in the nuclear reaction rates were investigated in a large-scale Monte Carlo approach, simultaneously varying more than 10 000 reactions. A large range of model conditions was investigated because a definitive astrophysical site for the νp-process has not yet been identified. The present parameter study provides, for each model, identification of the key nuclear reactions dominating the uncertainty for a given nuclide abundance. As all rates appearing in the νp-process involve unstable nuclei, and thus only theoretical rates are available, the final abundance uncertainties are larger than those for nucleosynthesis processes closer to stability. Nevertheless, most uncertainties remain below a factor of 3 in trajectories with robust nucleosynthesis. More extreme conditions allow production of heavier nuclides but show larger uncertainties because of the accumulation of the uncertainties in many rates and because the termination of nucleosynthesis is not at equilibrium conditions. It is also found that the solar ratio of the abundances of 92Mo and 94Mo could be reproduced within uncertainties.

Sensitivities of direct numerical simulations to chemical kinetic uncertainties: spherical flame kernel evolution of a real jet fuel

A systematic computational study is conducted to understand the propagation of uncertain chemical kinetic parameters into turbulent premixed flame simulations. Two snapshots of the cross-section of a spherical flame kernel in homogeneous isotropic turbulence is extracted from a three dimensional direct numerical simulation (DNS) and serve as the initial conditions for a series of subsequent two-dimensional DNS that sample and quantify the impact of chemical kinetic uncertainties on the integrated heat release rates and certain species concentrations. The target configuration features real jet fuel chemistry modeled by a 31-species reduced reaction model. The importance of each reaction is first ranked, by comparing the normalized reaction flux based on a snapshot from the DNS. A two-step process is then taken where initial Monte Carlo screening is performed by perturbing 99 reaction rate constants simultaneously. Following this, a subset of 19 reactions is studied using a larger collection of 2D DNS simulations. As the major quantity of interest, the integrated heat release rate is consistently the most sensitive to reactions R8 (H+O2=O+OH) and R32 (CO+OH=CO2+H). When combined with a consideration of the reaction rate uncertainty, R71 (CH3+OH=CH2*+H2O) consistently impacts the quality of flame prediction most prominently. For the case starting with a strong burning flame, the rate limiting reactions are found to be not significantly different between the turbulent and laminar conditions, although the magnitudes of sensitivity coefficients are amplified for certain reactions under turbulent conditions due to an enlarged thermochemical space. For the case initialized with a near-extinction flame, more upstream and/or competing reactions with R8 and R32 are observed. Another manifestation of the enlarged thermochemical space in turbulent flames is the wider range of influential reactions for integrated mass of CO, in comparison with the laminar condition where the sensitivity is dominated by R32. For H and C2H2, reactions R71, R42 (HCO+O2=CO+HO2) and R40 (HCO+M=CO+H+M) are identified to impact the model predictions for such species as acetylene in the most significant manner.

Influence of Nuclear Reaction Rate Uncertainties on Neutron Star Properties Extracted from X-Ray Burst Model–Observation Comparisons

Abstract Type-I X-ray bursts can be used to determine properties of accreting neutron stars via comparisons between model calculations and astronomical observations, exploiting the sensitivity of models to astrophysical conditions. However, the sensitivity of models to nuclear physics uncertainties calls into question the fidelity of constraints derived in this way. Using X-ray burst model calculations performed with the code MESA, we investigate the impact of uncertainties for nuclear reaction rates previously identified as influential and compare them to the impact of changes in astrophysical conditions, using the conditions that are thought to best reproduce the source GS 1826-24 as a baseline. We find that reaction rate uncertainties are unlikely to significantly change conclusions about the properties of accretion onto the neutron star surface for this source. However, we find that reaction rate uncertainties significantly hinder the possibility of extracting the neutron star mass–radius ratio by matching the modeled and observed light curves, due to the influence of reaction rates on the modeled light curve shape. Particularly influential nuclear reaction rates are 15O(α, γ) and 23Al(p, γ), though other notable impacts arise from 14O(α, p), 18Ne(α, p), , 24Mg(α, γ), , and 61Ga(p, γ). Furthermore, we find that varying some nuclear reaction rates within their uncertainties has an impact on the neutron star crust composition and thermal structure that is comparable to relatively significant changes to the accretion conditions.

Thermonuclear fusion rates for tritium + deuterium using Bayesian methods

The $^3$H(d,n)$^4$He reaction has a large low-energy cross section and will likely be utilized in future commercial fusion reactors. This reaction also takes place during big bang nucleosynthesis. Studies of both scenarios require accurate and precise fusion rates. To this end, we implement a one-level, two-channel R-matrix approximation into a Bayesian model. Our main goals are to predict reliable astrophysical S-factors and to estimate R-matrix parameters using the Bayesian approach. All relevant parameters are sampled in our study, including the channel radii, boundary condition parameters, and data set normalization factors. In addition, we take uncertainties in both measured bombarding energies and S-factors rigorously into account. Thermonuclear rates and reactivities of the $^3$H(d,n)$^4$He reaction are derived by numerically integrating the Bayesian S-factor samples. The present reaction rate uncertainties at temperatures between $1.0$ MK and $1.0$ GK are in the range of 0.2% to 0.6%. Our reaction rates differ from previous results by 2.9% near 1.0 GK. Our reactivities are smaller than previous results, with a maximum deviation of 2.9% near a thermal energy of $4$ keV. The present rate or reactivity uncertainties are more reliable compared to previous studies that did not include the channel radii, boundary condition parameters, and data set normalization factors in the fitting. Finally, we investigate previous claims of electron screening effects in the published $^3$H(d,n)$^4$He data. No such effects are evident and only an upper limit for the electron screening potential can be obtained.

Total Monte Carlo acceleration for the PETALE experimental programme in the CROCUS reactor

The Bayesian Monte Carlo technics requires individual evaluations of random cross section files based on a Total Monte Carlo propagation. This article discusses the use of a Correlated Sampling acceleration applied to TMC calculations for experiments where a brute force technics is too expensive. An e_cient estimation of the reaction rate uncertainties in small dosimeters is obtained, together with the inter-dosimeter correlation associated to the cross section uncertainties.

Determination of the photodisintegration reaction rates involving charged particles: Systematic calculations and proposed measurements based on the facility for Extreme Light Infrastructure–Nuclear Physics

Photodisintegration reaction rates involving charged particles are of relevance to the p-process nucleosynthesis that aims at explaining the production of the stable neutron-deficient nuclides heavier than iron. In this study, the cross sections and astrophysical rates of (g,p) and (g,a) reactions for about 3000 target nuclei with 10<Z<100 ranging from stable to proton dripline nuclei are computed. To study the sensitivity of the calculations to the optical model potentials (OMPs), both the phenomenological Woods-Saxon and the microscopic folding OMPs are taken into account. The systematic comparisons show that the reaction rates, especially for the (g,a) reaction, are dramatically influenced by the OMPs. Thus the better determination of the OMP is crucial to reduce the uncertainties of the photodisintegration reaction rates involving charged particles. Meanwhile, a gamma-beam facility at ELI-NP is being developed, which will open new opportunities to experimentally study the photodisintegration reactions of astrophysics interest. Considering both the important reactions identified by the nucleosynthesis studies and the purpose of complementing the experimental results for the reactions involving p-nuclei, the measurements of six (g,p) and eight (g,a) reactions based on the gamma-beam facility at ELI-NP and the ELISSA detector for the charged particles detection are proposed, and the GEANT4 simulations are correspondingly performed. The minimum required energies of the gamma-beam to measure these reactions are estimated. It is shown that the direct measurements of these photonuclear reactions within the Gamow windows at T_9=2.5 for p-process are fairly feasible and promising at ELI-NP. The expected experimental results will be used to constrain the OMPs of the charged particles, which can eventually reduce the uncertainties of the reaction rates for the p-process nucleosynthesis.

The impact of (n, γ) reaction rate uncertainties of unstable isotopes near N = 50 on the i-process nucleosynthesis in He-shell flash white dwarfs

The first-peak s-process elements Rb, Sr, Y and Zr in the post-AGB star Sakurai's object (V4334 Sagittarii) have been proposed to be the result of i-process nucleosynthesis in a post-AGB very-late thermal pulse event. We estimate the nuclear physics uncertainties in the i-process model predictions to determine whether the remaining discrepancies with observations are significant and point to potential issues with the underlying astrophysical model. We find that the dominant source in the nuclear physics uncertainties are predictions of neutron capture rates on unstable neutron rich nuclei, which can have uncertainties of more than a factor 20 in the band of the i-process. We use a Monte Carlo variation of 52 neutron capture rates and a 1D multi-zone post-processing model for the i-process in Sakurai's object to determine the cumulative effect of these uncertainties on the final elemental abundance predictions. We find that the nuclear physics uncertainties are large and comparable to observational errors. Within these uncertainties the model predictions are consistent with observations. A correlation analysis of the results of our MC simulations reveals that the strongest impact on the predicted abundances of Rb, Sr, Y and Zr is made by the uncertainties in the (n, γ) reaction rates of 85Br, 86Br, 87Kr, 88Kr, 89Kr, 89Rb, 89Sr, and 92Sr. This conclusion is supported by a series of multi-zone simulations in which we increased and decreased to their maximum and minimum limits one or two reaction rates per run. We also show that simple and fast one-zone simulations should not be used instead of more realistic multi-zone stellar simulations for nuclear sensitivity and uncertainty studies of convective–reactive processes. Our findings apply more generally to any i-process site with similar neutron exposure, such as rapidly accreting white dwarfs with near-solar metallicities.

Statistical Approach to Estimated Uncertainty of Nuclear Concentration in Problems of Isotope Kinetics

The minority of papers only is devoted to the study of impact of the uncertainties in nuclear data on the nuclear concentration received during the solution of the problem of fuel burn-up in the reactor facility. On the other hand, uncertainties of known reaction rates, neutron fluxes, etc. can lead to considerable distortions of the results obtained therefore it is important to be able to assess the impact of such uncertainties on nuclear concentration of nuclides. In this paper we consider the problem of the impact assessment of uncertainties in nuclear data on reactor functionalities as applied to isotope kinetics which represents the well-known Cauchy linear problem. The most exact approach is the statistical approach of the randomized selection of input parameters in using different distribution laws. But the simplest method of the analysis of sensitivity of model to perturbation parameters is the following (it has several names in the literature: one-at-a-time sensitivity measures, 1% sensitivity method): by varying one of the input parameters of the task for the small amount (for example, for 1%) when other parameters are constant, the corresponding response of output parameters is defined (variation approach). Our results show that in burn-up calculations the mean square deviations of nuclear concentrations obtained using statistical approach coincide with the variations of nuclear concentrations obtained in the variation approach.

I-process Contribution of Rapidly Accreting White Dwarfs to the Solar Composition of First-peak Neutron-capture Elements

Abstract Rapidly accreting white dwarfs (RAWDs) have been proposed as contributors to the chemical evolution of heavy elements in the Galaxy. Here, we test this scenario for the first time and determine the contribution of RAWDs to the solar composition of first-peak neutron-capture elements. We add the metallicity-dependent contribution of RAWDs to the one-zone galactic chemical evolution code OMEGA according to RAWD rates from binary stellar population models combined with metallicity-dependent i-process stellar yields calculated following the models of Denissenkov et al. With this approach, we find that the contribution of RAWDs to the evolution of heavy elements in the Galaxy could be responsible for a significant fraction of the solar composition of Kr, Rb, Sr, Y, Zr, Nb, and Mo ranging from 2% to 45% depending on the element, the enrichment history of the Galactic gas, and the total mass ejected per RAWD. This contribution could explain the missing solar Lighter Element Primary Process for some elements (e.g., Sr, Y, and Zr). We do not overproduce any isotope relative to the solar composition, but 96Zr is produced in a similar amount. The i process produces efficiently the Mo stable isotopes 95Mo and 97Mo. When nuclear reaction rate uncertainties are combined with our GCE uncertainties, the upper limits for the predicted RAWD contribution increase by a factor of 1.5–2 for Rb, Sr, Y, and Zr, and by 3.8 and 2.4 for Nb and Mo, respectively. We discuss the implication of the RAWD stellar evolution properties on the single-degenerate SN Ia scenario.

The Impact of Nuclear Reaction Rate Uncertainties on the Evolution of Core-collapse Supernova Progenitors

We explore properties of core-collapse supernova progenitors with respect to the composite uncertainties in the thermonuclear reaction rates by coupling the reaction rate probability density functions provided by the STARLIB reaction rate library with $\texttt{MESA}$ stellar models. We evolve 1000 15 $M_{\odot}$ models from the pre main-sequence to core O-depletion at solar and subsolar metallicities for a total of 2000 Monte Carlo stellar models. For each stellar model, we independently and simultaneously sample 665 thermonuclear reaction rates and use them in a $\texttt{MESA}$ in situ reaction network that follows 127 isotopes from $^{1}$H to $^{64}$Zn. With this framework we survey the core mass, burning lifetime, composition, and structural properties at five different evolutionary epochs. At each epoch we measure the probability distribution function of the variations of each property and calculate Spearman Rank-Order Correlation coefficients for each sampled reaction rate to identify which reaction rate has the largest impact on the variations on each property. We find that uncertainties in $^{14}$N$(p,\gamma)^{15}$O, triple-$\alpha$, $^{12}$C$(\alpha,\gamma)^{16}$O, $^{12}$C($^{12}$C,$p$)$^{23}$Na, $^{12}$C($^{16}$O,$p$)$^{27}$Al, $^{16}$O($^{16}$O,$n$)$^{31}$S, $^{16}$O($^{16}$O,$p$)$^{31}$P, and $^{16}$O($^{16}$O,$\alpha$)$^{28}$Si reaction rates dominate the variations of the properties surveyed. We find that variations induced by uncertainties in nuclear reaction rates grow with each passing phase of evolution, and at core H-, He-depletion are of comparable magnitude to the variations induced by choices of mass resolution and network resolution. However, at core C-, Ne-, and O-depletion, the reaction rate uncertainties can dominate the variation causing uncertainty in various properties of the stellar model in the evolution towards iron core-collapse.

Capture and photonuclear reaction rates involving charged-particles: Impacts of nuclear ingredients and future measurement on ELI-NP

The astrophysical p-process is an important way of nucleosynthesis to produce the stable and proton-rich nuclei beyond Fe which can not be reached by the s- and r-processes. In the present study, the impact of nuclear ingredients, especially the nuclear potential, level density and strength function, to the astrophysical re-action rates of (p,γ), (α,γ), (γ,p), and (γ,α) reactions are systematically studied. The calculations are performed basad on the modern reaction code TALYS for about 3000 stable and proton-rich nuclei with 12≤Z≤110. In particular, both of the Wood-Saxon potential and the microscopic folding potential are taken into account. It is found that both the capture and photonuclear reaction rates are very sensitive to the nuclear potential, thus the better determination of nuclear potential would be important to reduce the uncertainties of reaction rates. Meanwhile, the Extreme Light Infrastructure-Nuclear Physics (ELI-NP) facility is being developed, which will provide the great opportunity to experimentally study the photonuclear reactions in p-process. Simulations of the experimental setup for the measurements of the photonuclear reactions 96Ru(γ,p) and 96Ru(γ,α) are performed. It is shown that the experiments of photonuclear reactions in p-process based on ELI-NP are quite promising.

Sensitivity to neutron captures and β-decays of the enhanced s-process in rotating massive stars at low metallicities

The s-process in massive stars, producing nuclei up to A ≈ 90, has a different behaviour at low metallicity if stellar rotation is significant. This enhanced s-process is distinct from the s-process in massive stars around solar metallicity, and details of the nucleosynthesis are poorly known. We investigated nuclear physics uncertainties in the enhanced s-process in metalpoor stars within a Monte-Carlo framework. We applied temperature-dependent uncertainties of reaction rates, distinguishing contributions from the ground state and from excited states. We found that the final abundance of several isotopes shows uncertainties larger than a factor of 2, mostly due to the neutron capture uncertainties. A few nuclei around branching points are affected by uncertainties in the β-decay.

Uncertainties in the production of p nuclides in thermonuclear supernovae determined by Monte Carlo variations

Thermonuclear supernovae originating from the explosion of a white dwarf accreting mass from a companion star have been suggested as a site for the production of $p$ nuclides. Such nuclei are produced during the explosion, in layers enriched with seed nuclei coming from prior strong $s$ processing. These seeds are transformed to proton-richer isotopes mainly by photodisintegration reactions. Several thousand trajectories from a 2D explosion model were used in a Monte Carlo approach. Temperature-dependent uncertainties were assigned individually to thousands of rates varied simultaneously in post-processing in an extended nuclear reaction network. The uncertainties in the final nuclear abundances originating from uncertainties in the astrophysical reaction rates were determined. In addition to the 35 classical $p$ nuclides, abundance uncertainties were also determined for the radioactive nuclides $^{92}$Nb, $^{97,98}$Tc, $^{146}$Sm, and for the abundance ratios $Y$(${}^{92}$Mo)/$Y$(${}^{94}$Mo), $Y$(${}^{92}$Nb)/$Y$(${}^{92}$Mo), $Y$(${}^{97}$Tc)/$Y$(${}^{98}$Ru), $Y$(${}^{98}$Tc)/$Y$(${}^{98}$Ru), and $Y$(${}^{146}$Sm)/$Y$(${}^{144}$Sm), important for Galactic Chemical Evolution studies. Uncertainties found were generally lower than a factor of two, although most nucleosynthesis flows mainly involve predicted rates with larger uncertainties. The main contribution to the total uncertainties comes from a group of trajectories with high peak density originating from the interior of the exploding white dwarf. The distinction between low-density and high-density trajectories allows more general conclusions to be drawn, also applicable to other simulations of white dwarf explosions.

The neutron capture process in the He shell in core-collapse supernovae: Presolar silicon carbide grains as a diagnostic tool for nuclear astrophysics

Carbon-rich presolar grains are found in primitive meteorites, with isotopic measurements to date suggesting a core-collapse supernovae origin site for some of them. This holds for about 1–2% of presolar silicon carbide (SiC) grains, so-called Type X and C grains, and about 30% of presolar graphite grains. Presolar SiC grains of Type X show anomalous isotopic signatures for several elements heavier than iron compared to the solar abundances: most notably for strontium, zirconium, molybdenum, ruthenium and barium. We study the nucleosynthesis of zirconium and molybdenum isotopes in the He-shell of three core-collapse supernovae models of 15, 20 and 25M☉ with solar metallicity, and compare the results to measurements of presolar grains. We find the stellar models show a large scatter of isotopic abundances for zirconium and molybdenum, but the mass averaged abundances are qualitatively similar to the measurements. We find all models show an excess of 96Zr relative to the measurements, but the model abundances are affected by the fractionation between Sr and Zr since a large contribution to 90Zr is due to the radiogenic decay of 90Sr. Some supernova models show excesses of 95,97Mo and depletion of 96Mo relative to solar. The mass averaged distribution from these models shows an excess of 100Mo, but this may be alleviated by very recent neutron-capture cross section measurements. We encourage future explorations to assess the impact of the uncertainties in key neutron-capture reaction rates that lie along the n-process path.

Nuclear data uncertainty propagation by the XSUSA method in the HELIOS2 lattice code

Uncertainty quantification has been extensively applied to nuclear criticality analyses for many years and has recently begun to be applied to depletion calculations. However, regulatory bodies worldwide are trending toward requiring such analyses for reactor fuel cycle calculations, which also requires uncertainty propagation for isotopics and nuclear reaction rates. XSUSA is a proven methodology for cross section uncertainty propagation based on random sampling of the nuclear data according to covariance data in multi-group representation; HELIOS2 is a lattice code widely used for commercial and research reactor fuel cycle calculations. This work describes a technique to automatically propagate the nuclear data uncertainties via the XSUSA approach through fuel lattice calculations in HELIOS2. Application of the XSUSA methodology in HELIOS2 presented some unusual challenges because of the highly-processed multi-group cross section data used in commercial lattice codes. Currently, uncertainties based on the SCALE 6.1 covariance data file are being used, but the implementation can be adapted to other covariance data in multi-group structure. Pin-cell and assembly depletion calculations, based on models described in the UAM-LWR Phase I and II benchmarks, are performed and uncertainties in multiplication factor, reaction rates, isotope concentrations, and delayed-neutron data are calculated. With this extension, it will be possible for HELIOS2 users to propagate nuclear data uncertainties directly from the microscopic cross sections to subsequent core simulations.

ON POTASSIUM AND OTHER ABUNDANCE ANOMALIES OF RED GIANTS IN NGC 2419

ABSTRACT Globular clusters are of paramount importance for testing theories of stellar evolution and early galaxy formation. Strong evidence for multiple populations of stars in globular clusters derives from observed abundance anomalies. A puzzling example is the recently detected Mg–K anticorrelation in NGC 2419. We perform Monte Carlo nuclear reaction network calculations to constrain the temperature–density conditions that gave rise to the elemental abundances observed in this elusive cluster. We find a correlation between stellar temperature and density values that provide a satisfactory match between simulated and observed abundances in NGC 2419 for all relevant elements (Mg, Si, K, Ca, Sc, Ti, and V). Except at the highest densities (ρ ≳ 108 g cm−3), the acceptable conditions range from ≈100 MK at ≈108 g cm−3 to ≈200 MK at ≈10−4 g cm−3. This result accounts for uncertainties in nuclear reaction rates and variations in the assumed initial composition. We review hydrogen-burning sites and find that low-mass stars, asymptotic giant branch (AGB) stars, massive stars, or supermassive stars cannot account for the observed abundance anomalies in NGC 2419. Super-AGB stars could be viable candidates for the polluter stars if stellar model parameters can be fine-tuned to produce higher temperatures. Novae, involving either CO or ONe white dwarfs, could be interesting polluter candidates, but a current lack of low-metallicity nova models precludes firmer conclusions. We also discuss whether additional constraints for the first-generation polluters can be obtained by future measurements of oxygen, or by evolving models of second-generation low-mass stars with a non-canonical initial composition.