Extracting the rp-process from X-ray burst light curves

Abstract

The light curves of type I X-ray bursts (XRBs) result from energy released from the atmosphere of a neutron star when accreted hydrogen and helium ignite and burn explosively via the rp-process. Since charged particle reaction rates are both density and very temperature dependent, a simulation model must provide accurate values of these variables to predict the reaction flow. This paper uses a self-consistent one-dimensional model calculation with a constant accretion rate of dM/dt=5e16g/s (0.045 Eddington) and reports on the detailed rp-process reaction flow of a given burst.