A Study of Nucleosynthesis during Explosive Carbon Burning

Abstract

Nucleosynthesis during explosive carbon burning is reexamined. Dominant reactions are determined and listed as an aid to experimental studies. Nucleosynthesis is examined at higher temperatures and higher neutron excess than considered previously. Simple approximations to the complete network of nuclear reactions are developed and presented. New implications of these results for stellar evolution and nucleosynthesis are discussed. Explosive carbon burning gives a signature which is quantitatively equivalent to that expected from the explosion of a massive (8 < MIM0 < 80) star. Subject headings: interiors, stellar - nucleosynthesis