Neutrino-driven wind simulations and nucleosynthesis of heavy elements. (arXiv:1207.2527v1 [astro-ph.SR])

Neutrino-driven wind simulations and nucleosynthesis of heavy elements. (arXiv:1207.2527v1 [astro-ph.SR]):
Neutrino-driven winds, which follow core-collapse supernova explosions,
present a fascinating nuclear astrophysics problem that requires understanding
advanced astrophysics simulations, the properties of matter and neutrino
interactions under extreme conditions, the structure and reactions of exotic
nuclei, and comparisons against forefront astronomical observations. The
neutrino-driven wind has attracted vast attention over the last 20 years as it
was suggested to be a candidate for the astrophysics site where half of the
heavy elements are produced via the r-process. In this review, we summarize our
present understanding of neutrino-driven winds from the dynamical and
nucleosynthesis perspectives. Rapid progress has been made during recent years
in understanding the wind with improved simulations and better micro physics.
The current status of the fields is that hydrodynamical simulations do not
reach the extreme conditions necessary for the r-process and the proton or
neutron richness of the wind remains to be investigated in more detail.
However, nucleosynthesis studies and observations point already to
neutrino-driven winds to explain the origin of lighter heavy elements, such as
Sr, Y, Zr.