KPM: A Flexible and Data-Driven K-Process Model for Nucleosynthesis

Understand

The element abundance pattern found in Milky Way disk stars is close to two-dimensional, dominated by production from one prompt process and one delayed process.

• This simplicity is remarkable, since the elements are produced by a multitude of nucleosynthesis mechanisms operating in stars with a wide range of progenitor masses.
• We fit the abundances of 14 elements for 48,659 red-giant stars from APOGEE DR17 using a flexible, data-driven K-process model -- dubbed KPM.
• In our fiducial model, with $K=2$, each abundance in each star is described as the sum of a prompt and a delayed process contribution.