F.-K. Thielemann
Department of Physics, University of Basel, Switzerland
Date
28 May 2008
Talk title
Nuclear Physics, Stellar Explosions and the Abundance Evolution in Galaxies
Abstract
The computational modeling of astrophysical objects requires the combined treatment of different subfields of physics: 1. hydrodynamics/hydrostatics for the modeling of mass flows, 2. energy generation and nucleosynthesis due to nuclear reactions, 3. energy transport via conduction, radiation or possibly convection, and finally 4. thermodynamic properties of the matter involved, especially the equation of state. Nuclear physics obviously plays an essential role for energy generation and nucleosynthesis, but can also enter radiation transport (e.g. in supernovae) via neutrino-nucleon/nucleus interaction, and clearly determines the equation of state at and above nuclear densities (e.g. in neutron stars). We will highlight the role and impact of nuclear physics and its uncertainties on the explosion mechanism, observables like neutrino luminosities, gravitational waves and the ejected abundances of supernovae, novae and X-ray bursts, plus their imprint witnessed in the so-called chemical evolution of galaxies. The properties of proton- as well as neutron-rich exotic nuclei far from stability are of specific importance.