Proton drip-line calculations and the rp process

B. A. Brown, R. R. C. Clement, H. Schatz, A. Volya, and W. A. Richter
Phys. Rev. C 65, 045802 – Published 19 March 2002
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Abstract

One-proton and two-proton separation energies are calculated for proton-rich nuclei in the region A=4175. The method is based on Skyrme Hartree-Fock calculations of Coulomb displacement energies of mirror nuclei in combination with the experimental masses of the neutron-rich nuclei. The implications for the proton drip line and the astrophysical rp process are discussed. This is done within the framework of a detailed analysis of the sensitivity of rp process calculations in type I x-ray burst models on nuclear masses. We find that the remaining mass uncertainties, in particular for some nuclei with N=Z, still lead to large uncertainties in calculations of x-ray burst light curves. Further experimental or theoretical improvements of nuclear mass data are necessary before observed x-ray burst light curves can be used to obtain quantitative constraints on ignition conditions and neutron star properties. We identify a list of nuclei for which improved mass data would be most important.

  • Received 23 July 2001

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevC.65.045802

©2002 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

B. A. Brown, R. R. C. Clement, H. Schatz, and A. Volya

  • Department of Physics and Astronomy and National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824-1321

W. A. Richter

  • Department of Physics, University of Stellenbosch, Stellenbosch 7600, South Africa

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Vol. 65, Iss. 4 — April 2002

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