Neutronization and thermal disintegration of dense stellar matterNeutronization and thermal disintegration of dense stellar matter

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 Author Epstein, R. I. ♦ Arnett, W. D. Sponsorship USDOE Source United States Department of Energy Office of Scientific and Technical Information Content type Text Publisher Institute of Physics (IOP) Language English
 Subject Keyword Physics (Astrophysics & Cosmology)-Stars ♦ Physics Research-Astrophysics & Cosmology-Stars ♦ STAR EVOLUTION- NUCLEAR REACTIONS ♦ COSMOCHEMISTRY ♦ DENSITY ♦ EQUATIONS OF STATE ♦ HYDROGEN ♦ MATTER ♦ NEUTRONS ♦ STARS Abstract The properties of matter in nuclear statistical equilibrium are investigated over the range of density, temperature, and electron number 10$sup 9$approximately-less-thanrhoapproximately-less-than10$sup 11$ g cm$sup -3$, 2times10$sup 9$approximately-less-thanTapproximately-less-than4times10$sup 10$, and 0.50approximately-less-thanY/sube/approximately-less-than0.45; it is just this range of parameters which is relevant for stellar material subsequent to silicon burning. The ion number, the nuclear binding energy, and the rates of neutronization and energy emission by neutrinos have been calculated. The present results are compared with those of previous workers, and their accuracy is critically assessed. A simple phenomenological picture of the relevant physical processes is presented and is used to develop approximate expressions for the weak interaction rates and the thermodynamic properties of the matter. The approximate results are presented in a form which is suitable for numerical investigations. (AIP) ISSN 0004637X Educational Use Research Learning Resource Type Article Publisher Date 1975-10-01 Publisher Department Center for Astrophysics, Harvard College Observatory and Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, Cambridge, MA Publisher Place United States Journal Astrophysical Journal Volume Number 201 Organization Center for Astrophysics, Harvard College Observatory and Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, Cambridge, MA