Phase transitions and He-synthesis driven winds in neutrino cooled accretion disks: prospects for late flares in short gamma-ray bursts

Understand

We consider the long term evolution of debris following the tidal disruption of compact stars in the context of short gamma ray bursts (SGRBs).

• The initial encounter impulsively creates a hot, dense, neutrino-cooled disk capable of powering the prompt emission.
• After a long delay, we find that powerful winds are launched from the surface of the disk, driven by the recombination of free nucleons into alpha particles.
• The associated energy release depletes the mass supply and eventually shuts off activity of the central engine.