出版社:SISSA, Scuola Internazionale Superiore di Studi Avanzati
摘要:First steps have been taken in a more comprehensive study of the dependence of observables in
Type I X-ray bursts on uncertain (p,g ) reaction rates along the rp -process path. We use the multizone
hydrodynamics code KEPLER which implicitly couples a full nuclear reaction network of
more than 1000 isotopes, as needed, to follow structure and evolution of the X-ray burst layer
and its ashes. This allows us to incorporate the full rp -process network, including all relevant
nuclear reactions, and individually study changes in the X-ray burst light curves when modifying
selected key nuclear reaction rates. In this work we considered all possible proton captures to
nuclei with 10 < Z < 28 and N Z. When varying individual reaction rates within a symmetric
full width uncertainty of a factor of 104, early results for some rates show changes in the burst
light curve as large as 10 percent of peak luminosity. This change is large enough to be detectable
by current X-ray burst light curve observations. More precise reaction rates are therefore needed
to test current X-ray burst models, particularly of the burst rise, with observational data and to
constrain astrophysical parameters.