Enhanced production of <sup>60</sup>Fe in massive stars and supernova explosions

ORAL  · Invited

Abstract



Active nucleosynthesis in our galaxy can be observed directly through the detection of long-lived radioactivities. Isotopes such as 26Al, and 60Fe have been observed either in solar system samples or through γ-ray observations within the galaxy. Both isotopes are predominantly produced in massive stars and ejected into the interstellar medium either via stellar winds or through the supernova explosion. Instead of only looking at absolute observational values for each isotope, the ratio of 60Fe/26Al can be used as a more sensitive probe of massive star evolution since many of the observational uncertainties cancel out. A long standing puzzle is that most theoretical models overpredict this ratio compared to observations. The discrepancy has been attributed to uncertainties in the nuclear reactions, and in particular the ones related to the production/destruction of 60Fe. Here we report on the main reaction producing 60Fe, namely the 59Fe(n,γ)60Fe reaction. We will present the results of a β-Oslo measurement that provides an indirect experimental constraint for this reaction. The impact of this result on the evolution and explosion of massive stars will be presented.

*The work was supported by the National Science Foundation and the National Nuclear Security Administration.

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Presenters

  • Artemis Spyrou

    • Michigan State University

Authors

  • Artemis Spyrou

    • Michigan State University

  • Debra Richman

    • Facility for Rare Isotope Beams; Department of Physics and Astronomy, Michigan State University

  • Aaron J Couture

    • Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL)

  • Carl Fields

    • Los Alamos National Laboratory

  • Sean N Liddick

    • Facility for Rare Isotope Beams, Michigan State University
    • Facility for Rare isotope Beams; Department of Chemistry, Michigan State University

  • Katherine Childers

    • Nevada National Security Site

  • Benjamin P Crider

    • Mississippi State University

  • Paul A Deyoung

    • Hope College

  • Alexander C Dombos

    • Michigan State University

  • Panagiotis Gastis

    • Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL)

  • Magne Guttormsen

    • University of Oslo

  • Kirby Hermansen

    • Michigan State University

  • Ann-Cecilie Larsen

    • University of Oslo

  • Rebecca Lewis

    • Facility for Rare Isotope Beams; Department of Chemistry, Michigan State University

  • Stephanie M Lyons

    • Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL)

  • Jorgen Midtbo

    • University of Oslo

  • Shea Mosby

    • Los Alamos National Laboratory

  • Dennis Muecher

    • Universität zu Köln

  • Farheen Naqvi

    • Facility for Rare Isotope Beams

  • Alicia R Palmisano

    • University of Tennessee

  • Georgios Perdikakis

    • Central Michigan University

  • Christopher Prokop

    • Los Alamos National Laboratory

  • Hendrik Schatz

    • Michigan State University and FRIB

  • Mallory K Smith

    • Facility for Rare Isotope Beams, Michigan State University
    • Michigan State University
    • Facility for Rare Isotope Beams

  • Chandana S Sumithrarachchi

    • Facility for Rare Isotope Beams

  • Adriana Sweet

    • Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory