Distinct First-to-Second Peak Yield Ratios and Timescales Reveal a Sub-dominant Prompt Channel

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Hauptverfasser: Zenati, Yossef, Beniamini, Paz, Hotokezaka, Kenta
Format: Preprint
Veröffentlicht: 2026
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author Zenati, Yossef
Beniamini, Paz
Hotokezaka, Kenta
author_facet Zenati, Yossef
Beniamini, Paz
Hotokezaka, Kenta
contents Stellar abundances reveal non-monotonic [Y/Eu] and [Sr/Eu] evolution, a systematic decline with increasing [Eu/H] at low metallicity, a minimum at $[\rm{Eu/H}] \sim -0.3$ and then a rise at high metallicity. This behavior requires at least three distinct neutron-capture sources operating on different timescales. We develop a one-zone chemical-evolution model constraining their typical delay-times, rates, and yield ratios. Reproducing the observed $\rm{[Y/Eu]}$ and $\rm{[Sr/Eu]}$ sequences requires, a delayed $r$-process channel (most likely binary neutron-star mergers) dominating Eu production ($\gtrsim 95\%$ of total Eu). A prompt channel preferentially producing first-peak elements with minimal Eu, explaining the increasing [Y/Eu] at decreasing [Eu/H] below $[\rm{Eu/H}] \lesssim -2.5$; and delayed AGB $s$-process enrichment with delays greater than $t_{min} = 0.3-0.6$\,Gyr reproducing the late-time upturn in Y (Sr). Our model quantitatively reproduces all constraints, including the large $Δ[\rm{Y/Eu}] \approx 0.6$ dex variation between the late-time rise [Eu/H] and the minimum value, the location of the minimum at [Eu/H] $\sim -0.3$ and late-time rise. The first-to-second peak yield ratios correspond to $[\rm{Y/Eu}] \approx -0.3$ (prompt) and $\approx -0.8$ (BNS mergers). The observed $Δ[\rm{Y/Eu}]$ amplitude establishes a model-independent lower limit on the first to second peak yield ratio $\gtrsim 3.4$ between the prompt and delayed channels, ruling out models with similar prompt and delayed yield ratios. These results demonstrate that explaining the observed heavy-element abundance patterns requires multiple channels with distinct nucleosynthetic signatures and operational timescales, providing constraints on the relative rates, delay times, and yield patterns of candidate production sites.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2604_11885
institution arXiv
publishDate 2026
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Distinct First-to-Second Peak Yield Ratios and Timescales Reveal a Sub-dominant Prompt Channel
Zenati, Yossef
Beniamini, Paz
Hotokezaka, Kenta
High Energy Astrophysical Phenomena
Astrophysics of Galaxies
Solar and Stellar Astrophysics
Stellar abundances reveal non-monotonic [Y/Eu] and [Sr/Eu] evolution, a systematic decline with increasing [Eu/H] at low metallicity, a minimum at $[\rm{Eu/H}] \sim -0.3$ and then a rise at high metallicity. This behavior requires at least three distinct neutron-capture sources operating on different timescales. We develop a one-zone chemical-evolution model constraining their typical delay-times, rates, and yield ratios. Reproducing the observed $\rm{[Y/Eu]}$ and $\rm{[Sr/Eu]}$ sequences requires, a delayed $r$-process channel (most likely binary neutron-star mergers) dominating Eu production ($\gtrsim 95\%$ of total Eu). A prompt channel preferentially producing first-peak elements with minimal Eu, explaining the increasing [Y/Eu] at decreasing [Eu/H] below $[\rm{Eu/H}] \lesssim -2.5$; and delayed AGB $s$-process enrichment with delays greater than $t_{min} = 0.3-0.6$\,Gyr reproducing the late-time upturn in Y (Sr). Our model quantitatively reproduces all constraints, including the large $Δ[\rm{Y/Eu}] \approx 0.6$ dex variation between the late-time rise [Eu/H] and the minimum value, the location of the minimum at [Eu/H] $\sim -0.3$ and late-time rise. The first-to-second peak yield ratios correspond to $[\rm{Y/Eu}] \approx -0.3$ (prompt) and $\approx -0.8$ (BNS mergers). The observed $Δ[\rm{Y/Eu}]$ amplitude establishes a model-independent lower limit on the first to second peak yield ratio $\gtrsim 3.4$ between the prompt and delayed channels, ruling out models with similar prompt and delayed yield ratios. These results demonstrate that explaining the observed heavy-element abundance patterns requires multiple channels with distinct nucleosynthetic signatures and operational timescales, providing constraints on the relative rates, delay times, and yield patterns of candidate production sites.
title Distinct First-to-Second Peak Yield Ratios and Timescales Reveal a Sub-dominant Prompt Channel
topic High Energy Astrophysical Phenomena
Astrophysics of Galaxies
Solar and Stellar Astrophysics
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2604.11885