Date of Award
5-2025
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Bachelor of Science
Department
Physics
First Advisor
Dr. Emory F. Bunn
Abstract
Neutron star mergers (NSMs) are the only confirmed source of the r-process responsible for heavy element formation. However, there are concerns about the extent to which NSMs can enrich small dwarf galaxies arising from either a strong natal kick velocity or substantial merger time. We present the results of a novel analytic model investigating the impact of these two distributions, represented respectively by a Maxwellian and power law, and their accompanying parameters on chemical enrichment in ultra-faint dwarf halos. We find that our model reproduces the observed enrichment fractions in these small dwarf galaxies for a variety of parameter combinations, but this does not include the literature values for kick velocity and delay time. This result implies that we either must revise the literature values or conclude that under theorized conditions NSMs cannot be the dominant source of heavy element production.
Recommended Citation
Gyure, Christine, "Can Neutron Star Mergers Alone Reproduce r-Process Enrichment in Ultra-Faint Dwarf Halos?" (2025). Honors Theses. 1826.
https://scholarship.richmond.edu/honors-theses/1826
