Screening Effects on Electron-Capture Rates and Type Ia Supernova Nucleosynthesis

Abstract

Nucleosynthesis of iron-group elements in Type Ia supernovae is studied for single-degenerate models with the use of electron-capture rates updated with the new shell-model Hamiltonian in pf -shell. An over-production problem of neutron-rich iron-group isotopes compared with the solar abundances is now found to be suppressed within a factor of about twice for the updated weak rates. Effects of screening on nucleosynthesis are investigated for explosion models of fast deflagration and slow deflagration with delayed detonation. The e-capture rates are reduced by the screening, especially by the screening effects on the ions. The production yields of most neutron-rich isotopes such as 50Ti, 54Cr and 58Fe are found to be suppressed most by the screening. The inclusion of the screening is desirable for precise evaluation of abundances of neutron-rich nuclides.