The discussion centers around the r-process and s-process in nucleosynthesis, specifically focusing on the origins of neutrons necessary for the r-process to occur. Participants explore the conditions and environments that facilitate neutron capture and the production of heavy elements.
Participants express curiosity about the sources of neutrons for the r-process, with some suggesting specific reactions while others highlight the importance of certain astrophysical environments. There is no consensus on the exact mechanisms or conditions involved.
The discussion includes assumptions about the conditions necessary for neutron capture and the environments conducive to the r-process, but these assumptions are not fully explored or resolved.
Students and researchers interested in nucleosynthesis, astrophysics, and the formation of heavy elements may find this discussion relevant.
It is mostly ionized H atoms, simply protons, among free electrons (=plasma) that gets the stars going in the core. See mainly pages 3-5 of this link:Gideon said:Hi, I'm studying my astronomy course at the moment and i have question about the r- and s-process. As I understand it, in the r-process, the time between capturing two neutrons is shorter than the averge beta decay half life, right? So I'm guessing there have to be a lot of neutrons around for the r process to take place. But where do all these neutrons come from?