Erlangen 2026 – wissenschaftliches Programm

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HK: Fachverband Physik der Hadronen und Kerne

HK 27: Poster Session

HK 27.32: Poster

Mittwoch, 18. März 2026, 16:15–18:30, Redoutensaal

Gamma rays in r-process sites — Lucas de Borba Flesch, •Almudena Arcones, Jan Kuske, and Giacomo Ricigliano — Institut für Kernphysik, Technische Universität Darmstadt, Schlossgartenstr. 2, Darmstadt 64289, Germany

The rapid neutron capture process (r-process) synthesizes heavy elements, but its astrophysical sites remain partially unconfirmed. Identifying delayed gamma-ray emission from unstable r-process nuclei is crucial for site verification. This study models time-dependent gamma-ray spectra from r-process nucleosynthesis in varied conditions, including those found in supernovae and neutron star mergers, using the WinNet nuclear reaction network. Focusing on long timescales relevant to galactic remnants, we identify key long-lived isotopes dominating the flux across all three r-process peaks, as well as certain actinide decay chains. We assess the observability of these lines by calculating light curves and Doppler broadened spectra against current and future detector sensitivities (e.g., NuStar and GammaTPC). A prominent high-energy gamma line (661.66 keV) is the most promising signature, potentially visible up to 500 years. Furthermore, we predict that low-energy emission lines should be detectable in existing supernova remnants. These results provide critical guidance for upcoming gamma-ray telescopes seeking to localize the astrophysical origin of heavy elements.

Keywords: r-process; gamma-rays; nucleosynthesis