Article

Californium-254 and Kilonova Light Curves

Y. L. ZhuNorth Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695-8202, USARyan WollaegerCenter for Theoretical Astrophysics, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM 87545, USA; [email protected]N. VasshUniversity of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556, USAR. SurmanJoint Institute for Nuclear Astrophysics—Center for the Evolution of the Elements, USAT. M. SprouseUniversity of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556, USAM. R. MumpowerCenter for Theoretical Astrophysics, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM 87545, USA; [email protected]P. MöllerJoint Institute for Nuclear Astrophysics—Center for the Evolution of the Elements, USAG. C. McLaughlinJoint Institute for Nuclear Astrophysics—Center for the Evolution of the Elements, USAOleg KorobkinCenter for Theoretical Astrophysics, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM 87545, USA; [email protected]Toshihiko KawanoTheoretical Division, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM 87545, USAP. J. JaffkeTheoretical Division, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM 87545, USAE. M. HolmbeckJoint Institute for Nuclear Astrophysics—Center for the Evolution of the Elements, USAChris L. FryerCenter for Theoretical Astrophysics, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM 87545, USA; [email protected]Wesley EvenCenter for Theoretical Astrophysics, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM 87545, USA; [email protected]A. CoutureCenter for Theoretical Astrophysics, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM 87545, USA; [email protected]Jennifer BarnesDepartment of Physics and Columbia Astrophysics Laboratory, Columbia University, New York, NY 10027, USA

2018en

ABI

Abstract

Abstract Neutron star mergers offer unique conditions for the creation of the heavy elements, and additionally provide a testbed for our understanding of this synthesis known as the r -process. We have performed dynamical nucleosynthesis calculations and identified a single isotope, 254 Cf, which has a particularly high impact on the brightness of electromagnetic transients associated with mergers on the order of 15 to 250 days. This is due to the anomalously long half-life of this isotope and the efficiency of fission thermalization compared to other nuclear channels. We estimate the fission fragment yield of this nucleus and outline the astrophysical conditions under which 254 Cf has the greatest impact to the light curve. Future observations in the mid-infrared, which are bright during this regime, could indicate the production of actinide nucleosynthesis.

Identifiers

DOI: 10.3847/2041-8213/aad5de

Citations and references

Cited by 20 references

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