The r-process in prompt explosions from collapsing O-Ne-Mg cores Original Research Article

We examine r-process nucleosynthesis in a "prompt supernova explosion" from an 8 – 10 M⊙ progenitor star. We simulate energetic prompt explosions by enhancement of the shock-heating energy, in order to investigate conditions necessary for the production of r-process nuclei in such events. The r-process nucleosynthesis is calculated using a nuclear reaction network code including relevant neutron-rich isotopes with reactions among them. The highly neutronized ejecta (Ye≈0.14−0.20) leads to robust production of r-process nuclei; their relative abundances are in excellent agreement with the solar r-process pattern.