The impact of r-process heating on the dynamics of neutron star merger accretion disc winds and their electromagnetic radiation

Understand

Neutron star merger accretion discs can launch neutron-rich winds of $>10^{-2}\,\mathrm{M}_\odot$.

• This ejecta is a prime site for r-process nucleosynthesis, which will produce a range of radioactive heavy nuclei.
• The decay of these nuclei releases enough energy to accelerate portions of the wind by ~0.1c.
• Here, we investigate the effect of r-process heating on the dynamical evolution of disc winds.