# R-Process Abundances and Cosmochronometers in Old Metal-Poor Halo Stars

## R-Process Abundances and Cosmochronometers in Old Metal-Poor Halo Stars

B. Pfeiffer <sup>1</sup>, K.-L. Kratz <sup>1</sup>, F.-K. Thielemann <sup>2</sup>, J.J. Cowan <sup>3</sup>, C. Sneden <sup>4</sup>, S. Burles <sup>5,6</sup>, D. Tytler <sup>5</sup>, and T.C. Beers <sup>7</sup>   
<sup>1</sup> Institut für Kernchemie, Universität Mainz, Mainz, Germany   
<sup>2</sup> Institut für Theoretische Physik, Universität Basel, Basel, Switzerland   
<sup>3</sup> Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Oklahoma, USA   
<sup>4</sup> Department of Astronomy and McDonald Observatory, University of Texas, Austin, USA   
<sup>5</sup> Department of Physics and Center for Astrophysics and Space Sciences, University of California, San Diego, USA   
<sup>6</sup> Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics, University of Chicago, Chicago, USA   
<sup>7</sup> Department of Physics and Astronomy, Michigan State University, East Lansing, USA

Already 30 years ago, Seeger et al.  expressed the idea that the solar system r-process isotopic abundance distribution (N<sub>r,⊙</sub>) is composed of several components. But only on the basis of new experimental and modern theoretical nuclear-physics input, Kratz et al.  demonstrated that within the so-called waiting-point approximation a minimum of three components (showing a steady flow of $`\beta `$-decays between magic neutron numbers) can give a reasonable fit to the whole N<sub>r,⊙</sub>. A somewhat better fit can be obtained by a more continuous superposition of exponentially declining neutron number densities . Accordingly, the s-process shows a steady flow of neutron captures in between magic neutron numbers and a good fit is achieved when taking an exponentially declining superposition of exposures. Analyzing with present day almost perfectly known nuclear data in the s-process (as neutron capture and $`\beta `$-decay rates), Goriely  recently reproduced this exponential exposure with his “multi-event” model. As there is practically no experimental nuclear input in the r-process we prefer to apply the waiting-point approximation based on a smooth physical behaviour in an exponential model, rather than obtaining spurious results, which are just driven by obtaining a better fit with, however, the wrong physics.   
Deficiencies in calculated N<sub>r,⊙</sub>-abundances (even using the most recent macroscopic-microscopic mass models FRDM and ETFSI) were attributed to an incorrect trend in neutron separation energies when approaching magic neutron numbers far from stability . The weakening of shell strength near the neutron drip line predicted from astrophysical requirements was recently also obtained by Hartree-Fock-Bogolyubov (HFB) mass calculations with the Skyrme-P force . And indeed, new spectroscopic studies of very neutron-rich Cd-isotopes at CERN/ISOLDE have revealed first experimental evidence for a quenching of the N=82 major shell below <sup>132</sup>Sn . Applying these HFB masses around the magic neutron numbers resulted in an eradication of the abundance troughs . As large-scale HFB calculations for deformed nuclear shapes are not yet available, Pearson et al.  modified their ETFSI mass model to asymptotically approach the HFB masses at the drip-lines. The N<sub>r,⊙</sub>-abundances calculated with these ETFS-Q masses are shown in Fig. 1 to give a good fit over the whole range of stable r-process isotopes. This gives confidence to extrapolate the calculations to the unstable actinide isotopes. The abundances prior to $`\alpha `$\- and $`\beta `$-decay are displayed in Fig. 1 as a dashed line and the final abundances after decay as a solid line. The good reproduction of the Tl-Pb-region (as endproducts of the $`\alpha `$-decay chains) let us to conclude that estimates of the initial abundances of the long-lived isotopes <sup>232</sup>Th and <sup>235,238</sup>U, which are applied as cosmochronometers, can be taken from our r-process model.   

Recently, stellar abundances of neutron-capture elements (beyond iron) have been determined over a wide Z-range in the very metal-poor Galactic halo star CS22892-052 . After adjustment to solar metallicity, the values are consistent with the global solar-system r-process abundances as well as with our predictions (see Fig. 2). From this agreement, we concluded that the heavy elements in this star are of pure r-origin and that from the comparison of the observed and calculated Th/Eu abundance ratios an age estimate for the heavy elements of about 13 Gyr can be derived . This indicates, that r-synthesis started early in the Galactic evolution and that there might be a unique r-process scenario (at least beyond Z$``$50).   
As, evidently, one single star cannot stand for the whole low metallicity end of the Galactic halo, further measurements are needed, not only to investigate other stars over a range of metallicities, but essentially to detect additional elements, especially the 3<sup>rd</sup>-peak elements (Os, Pt, Pb) close to Th and U. These elements have absorption lines in the UV, so that they are best observed from space. Therefore, spectra for three K giant stars (HD115444, HD122563, HD126238) were measured with the Goddard High Resolution Spectrograph on the Hubble Space Telescope . Additional high-resolution spectra were registered with the High Resolution Echelle Spectrometer (HIRES) at the Keck I telescope for the star HD115444 in particular to separate the Th absorption line clearly from a blending <sup>13</sup>CH molecular line . The results of these observations are summarized in Fig. 2 as filled squares together with ground-based results (open squares). After proper renormalization, the observed neutron-capture elements in the four stars displayed overlap perfectly with our theoretical r-process curve (solid line) and the solar system distribution (dashed line).   

In addition to the observation of Th in CS22892-052 mentioned above, the new measurements yielded a firm value for HD115444 as well as an upper limit for HD122563. In the case of the second chronometer U, only an upper limit could be obtained for HD115444. The measured Th/Eu ratios combined with our calculated zero-age value allow to derive an estimate for the decay age of T=(13 $`\pm `$ 4) Gyr, where the uncertainty takes only in account the counting statistics . This value represents a lower limit for the age of the Galaxy and is in line with a variety of recent age estimates for the Universe.   
To summarize, the reproduction of the r-process component of solar abundances in the framework of the “waiting-point approximation” applying nuclear input data calculated from a macroscopic-microscopic mass model with Bogolyubov-enhanced shell “quenching” (ETFSI-Q) gives confidence in extrapolations beyond the stable isotopes to the actinide r-process cosmochronometers. The observation of “solar” neutron-capture element abundance distributions in four metal-poor halo stars indicate to a unique r-process site in the Galaxy (at least for Z$``$56). This further strenghtens our objections to the conclusions of Goriely and Arnould  that a series of several non-solar isotopic abundance distributions might produce a total elemental abundance pattern that fortuitously matches some of the neutron-capture elements in one low-metallicity star. Although the observation of a solar r-process elemental pattern is not an absolute proof for isotopic solar r-process abundances, it is nevertheless the most reasonable and probable conclusion.