Evolution of Accreting Neutron Star Common Envelopes and Their Nucleosynthesis Possible P-nuclide Production

Abstract

In a binary system, a short lived phase called a common envelope can occur in which both stars share the envelope of the primary. During this phase, there is the opportunity for nucleosynthesis to occur at high temperatures and densities in the accretion disk which forms around the secondary star. The system of interest is one in which the secondary star is a neutron star. After introducing the system, our model is described and preliminary results are presented. Preliminary simulations show that light p-nuclides 92Mo and 96,98Ru are overproduced, and that the closer the material is to the neutron star prior to ejection, the fewer p-nuclides are produced.