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Rp-process
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Nuclear processes |
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Radioactive decay processes
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The rp process (rapid proton capture process) consists of consecutive proton captures onto seed nuclei to produce heavier elements. It is a nucleosynthesis process and, along with the s process and the r process, is responsible for the generation of many of the heavy elements present in the universe. The end point of the rp process (the highest mass elemtent it can create) is not yet well established but recent research has indicated that in neutron stars it cannot progress beyond tellurium.[1]
The process has to occur in very high temperature environments so that the protons can overcome the large coulomb barrier for charged particle reactions. A hydrogen rich environment is also a prerequisite due to the large proton flux needed. The seed nuclei needed for this process to occur are thought to be formed during breakout reactions from the hot CNO cycle.
Sites suggested for the rp process include white dwarf or neutron star binary systems. In these systems a star (often a red giant) is feeding hydrogen rich material onto its white dwarf or neutron star companion. This causes an increase in temperature of the white dwarf or neutron star creating the conditions necessary for the rp process.
- ^ Schatz, H.; A. Aprahamian, V. Barnard, L. Bildsten, A. Cumming, M. Ouellette, T. Rauscher, F.-K. Thielemann, and M. Wiescher (April 2001). "End Point of the rp Process on Accreting Neutron Stars". Physical Review Letters 86 (16): 3471–3474. DOI:10.1103/PhysRevLett.86.3471. Retrieved on 2006-08-24.