# 1 Introduction

## 1 Introduction

In the last thirty years, $`s`$-process studies have been mainly pursued either by nucleosynthesis computations in stellar models for the Thermally Pulsing Asymptotic Giant Branch (TP-AGB) phases of low and intermediate mass stars  or by a phenomenological model, the so-called classical approach, developed with the intention to provide a possibility for a ”model-free” description (see e.g. Ref.).

Until recently, the two descriptions remained compatible within their respective uncertainties, while the <sup>13</sup>C($`\alpha `$,n)<sup>16</sup>O neutron source was recognized to play a major role on the AGB, and was assumed to occur in convective thermal pulses . Under such conditions, the classical analysis was considered suitable to extract ”effective” conditions characterizing the stellar scenarios.

This situation changed drastically, when it was realized that <sup>13</sup>C burns radiatively in the time interval between two successive He-shell instabilities . The interplay of the different thermal conditions for the <sup>13</sup>C and <sup>22</sup>Ne neutron sources became so complex as to be hardly represented by a single set of effective parameters, as commonly used by the classical approach (essentially neutron density $`n_n`$, temperature T, mean neutron exposure $`\tau _0`$). This is particularly true for the mathematical treatment of the neutron irradiation, usually simplified through an exponential distribution of exposures in phenomenological studies, $`\rho `$($`\tau `$) $``$ exp($`\tau `$/$`\tau _0`$). Stellar models now show that this distribution is definitely non-exponential. Any attempt to maintain the classical picture would require a larger number of free parameters, in contradiction with the basic reason for this approach as a model-independent guideline for stellar calculations. In view of these conceptual differences, it is not surprising that the results of the classical analysis and of AGB models exhibit significant discrepancies. A region of the $`s`$-process path where this is particularly evident, involves the neutron-magic nuclei at $`N=`$ 82, including the s-only isotope <sup>142</sup>Nd. The small cross sections of these nuclei act as bottle necks for the reaction flow and are, therefore, sensitive to the characteristics of the neutron exposure.

## 2 The new <sup>142</sup>Nd cross section and its implications for $`s`$-process nucleosynthesis

The $`s`$-process abundance of <sup>142</sup>Nd is influenced by small branchings in the neutron capture path at <sup>141</sup>Ce and <sup>142</sup>Pr (Fig. 1). The expected branching factor for bypassing <sup>142</sup>Nd is about 5%. While a meaningful analysis was long hampered by the uncertainties in the nuclear physics data, especially for <sup>142</sup>Nd , accurate measurements of the stellar (n,$`\gamma `$) cross sections of <sup>140,142</sup>Ce , <sup>141</sup>Pr , and of all stable Nd isotopes  have been reported recently, along with new calculations of the cross sections of the unstable branch point nuclei <sup>141</sup>Ce and <sup>142</sup>Pr . Significant discrepancies were found with the previously adopted cross sections, thus requiring an updated analysis.

<sup>142</sup>Nd is located immediately at the pronounced precipice of the $`\sigma `$$`N_s`$ curve, which is caused by the small (n,$`\gamma `$) cross sections at $`N=`$ 82. Hence, its cross section determines not only the branching analysis, but also the general shape of the $`s`$-process distribution. Since the $`\beta `$-decay rates of <sup>141</sup>Ce and <sup>142</sup>Pr are almost independent of the stellar temperature , the branchings are completely defined, according to the classical model, by the effective $`s`$-process neutron density, $`n_n`$, which is best obtained from the neighboring branchings bypassing <sup>148</sup>Sm: $`n_n=\left(4.1\pm 0.6\right)\times 10^8`$ cm<sup>-3</sup> . This value together with a thermal energy of $`kT=`$ 30 keV and an electron density of $`n_e=`$ 5.4 $`\times `$ 10<sup>26</sup> cm<sup>-3</sup> has been used for an $`s`$-process analysis with an updated reaction network.

The best fit to the solar system distribution for the $`s`$-nuclei belonging to the main component is obtained for a mean neutron exposure $`\tau _0=`$(0.296$`\pm `$0.003) \[$`kT`$/30\]<sup>1/2</sup> mbarn<sup>-1</sup>. The left panel of Fig. 2 provides evidence for a significant overproduction of <sup>142</sup>Nd with respect to the reference isotope <sup>150</sup>Sm, despite part of the reaction flow bypasses this isotope. The overproduction exceeds by far the uncertainties of the cross section (2% at 30 keV) and of the solar abundance, the abundance ratio between the chemically related rare earth elements Nd and Sm being known to 1.8% . Furthermore, the overproduction may be even larger in case of a non-neglibible $`p`$-process contribution. Therefore, <sup>142</sup>Nd provides the first significant hint that the simple assumptions of the classical approach are not adequate to describe the $`s`$-process near magic neutron numbers. Failures of the classical model have been found previously for the $`s`$-only nuclei <sup>116</sup>Sn and <sup>134,136</sup>Ba , but these discrepancies were masked by the large uncertainties of the solar Sn and Ba abundances.

A description of the stellar model and the adopted reaction network can be found in Ref.. Updated $`s`$-process calculations have been made using stellar evolutionary computations with the FRANEC code  for low mass stars, from the main sequence up to end of the AGB phase. A relatively large range of masses (1.5 $``$ $`M/M_{}`$ 3) and metallicities (-0.4 $``$ \[Fe/H\] $``$ 0) have been examined as well as the influence of various mass-loss rates.

The best reproduction of the solar distribution of the main $`s`$-component was obtained for a 2 $`M_{}`$ star with $`Z=1/2`$ $`Z_{}`$, and a mass loss rate according to Reimers with $`\eta =0.75`$.

The general improvement with respect to the classical solution (Fig. 2), is striking, especially since no fitting procedure was applied. <sup>134,136</sup>Ba are now overproduced by only 5%, a value compatible with the uncertainties of the neutron capture cross sections and solar abundances, thus avoiding the 20% correction of the solar barium abundance suggested by the classical analysis . Similarly, also <sup>116</sup>Sn, that had required a 15% correction of the solar tin abundance , is now reproduced within uncertainties. As for <sup>142</sup>Nd, the new cross section improves the situation drastically, resulting in very good agreement with the solar abundance. The previously overestimated <sup>142</sup>Nd cross section had always led to a persisting 30% deficiency of the <sup>142</sup>Nd abundance, incompatible with the expected $`p`$-process contribution of only a few percent .

Actually, to reproduce the $`s`$-isotopes in the solar system requires a more complex analysis including the chemical evolution of the Galaxy. Also in this context, the updated (n,$`\gamma `$) cross sections yield a satisfactory description of the solar <sup>142</sup>Nd abundance .

## 3 $`r`$-process residuals

The $`r`$-process residuals $`N_r=N_{}N_s`$ in Fig. 3 were calculated with the $`s`$-abundance average from the models for 1.5 and 3 $`M_{}`$ stars, which represents a good approximation of the distribution obtained with a chemical evolution study. Compared to the $`r`$ residuals derived from the classical $`s`$ abundances the plot of Fig. 3 shows only minor differences. However, it should be noted that the stellar models yield a 20% $`r`$-process component of the solar barium abundance, in excellent agreement with recent observations in low metallicity stars .