Competition of electron capture and beta-decay rates in supernova collapse

Abstract

We calculate supernova electron capture and beta decay rates for various pf-shell nuclei using large-scale shell model techniques. We show that the centroid of the Gamow-Teller strength distribution has been systematically misplaced in previous rate estimates. Our total electron capture rates are significantly smaller than currently adopted in core collapse calculations, while the total beta decay rates change less. Our calculation shows that for electron-to-baryon ratios Ye=0.42-0.46 beta decay rates are larger than the competing electron capture rates.