Neutrino-induced nucleosynthesis as a result of mixing between the He and C-O-Ne shells in core-collapse supernovae

Abstract

The nucleosynthesis in core-collapse supernovae resulting from interaction of the neutrino flux with 4He can contribute to the light element production (such as Li and B) and under favourable conditions to the origin of heavier nuclides belonging to the weak r-process component right up to the mass number A ≈ 130. Here we investigate possibility of considerable contribution of the neutrino-4He interaction to the weak r-process component. We assume that a large-scale convective mixing could occur between the He and C-O-Ne shells in core-collapse supernovae. In that case some 4He would be exposed to the neutrino radiation at a radius smaller than that predicted for He shell by standard pre-supernova models. Our calculations demonstrate that for metal-poor stars the neutrino contribution to creation of the weak r-process component becomes noticeable in case 4He is dragged down at radii R ≲ 109 cm. © 2014 The Authors Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Royal Astronomical Society.