Physics Colloquium on Element Synthesis and Neutrinos in Neutron Star Mergers
Wednesday, February 22, 2023 4 PM
About this Event
Crow Hall, St. Louis, MO 63105
https://artsci.wustl.edu/events/physics-colloquium-gail-mclaughlin-element-synthesis-and-neutrinos-neutron-star-mergersThe merging of two neutron stars is a true multimessenger event which includes gravitational waves, an electromagnetic signal and the emission of enormous numbers of neutrinos. In order to understand these signals we need a careful accounting of the microphysics that occurs during and after the merger. I will focus on the elements produced in these objects and the effect of two aspects of this microphysics; nuclear models/reactions and neutrino flavor transformation physics. In particular, I will discuss the importance of new developments in these areas to predictions of r-process observables and the astrophysical origin of the r-process.