Finite-temperature electron-capture rates for neutron-rich nuclei around N=50 and effects on core-collapse supernovae simulations

Understand

The temperature dependence of stellar electron-capture (EC) rates is investigated, with a focus on nuclei around $N=50$, just above $Z=28$, which play an important role during the collapse phase of core-collapse supernovae (CCSN).

• Two new microscopic calculations of stellar EC rates are obtained from a relativistic and a non-relativistic finite-temperature quasiparticle random-phase approximation approaches, for a conventional grid of temperatures and densities.
• In both approaches, EC rates due to Gamow-Teller transitions are included.
• In the relativistic calculation contributions from first-forbidden transitions are also included, and add strongly to the EC rates.