Production of very light elements and strontium in the early ejecta of neutron star mergers

Understand

We study the production of very light elements ($Z < 20$) in the dynamical and spiral-wave wind ejecta of binary neutron star mergers by combining detailed nucleosynthesis calculations with the outcome of numerical relativity merger simulations.

• All our models are targeted to GW170817 and include neutrino radiation.
• We explore different finite-temperature, composition dependent nuclear equations of state and binary mass ratios, and find that hydrogen and helium are the most abundant light elements.
• For both elements, the decay of free neutrons is the driving nuclear reaction.