Reaction Rate Uncertainties and the nu p-Process

Abstract

Current hydrodynamical simulations of core collapse supernovae find proton-rich early ejecta. At the same time, the models fail to eject neutron-rich matter, thus leaving the origin of the main r-process elements unsolved. However, the proton-rich neutrino-driven winds from supernovae have been identified as a possible production site for light n-capture elements beyond iron ( such as Ge, Sr, Y, Zr) through the nu p-process. The detailed nucleosynthesis patterns of the nu p-process depend on the hydrodynamic conditions and the nuclear reaction rates of key reactions. We investigate the impact of reaction rate uncertainties on the nu p-process nucleosynthesis.