Inferring the role of binary neutron star mergers in r-process nucleosynthesis with multi-messenger observations using Cosmic Explorer and Einstein Telescope
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| Format: | Preprint |
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2026
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| _version_ | 1866910247808925696 |
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| author | Agarwal, Aman Mukherjee, Suvodip Siegel, Daniel M. |
| author_facet | Agarwal, Aman Mukherjee, Suvodip Siegel, Daniel M. |
| contents | Identifying the cosmic origin of rapid neutron-capture (r-process) elements remains an open problem. Binary neutron-star (BNS) mergers and rare classes of core-collapse supernovae (CCSNe) represent the main contenders as major r-process production sites. Although BNS mergers could exclusively account for r-process nucleosynthesis, results from chemical evolution studies taking into account their delays with respect to star formation, observed BNS rates by gravitational-wave (GW) detectors, as well as issues with retention in low-mass halos suggest otherwise. Here, we propose a method to measure the contribution of BNS mergers to cosmic r-process nucleosynthesis with the third-generation GW detectors Cosmic Explorer and Einstein Telescope. It exploits the redshift-dependent correlation between the total number of BNS GW events and the average r-process abundances at redshifts $z \lesssim 1$. We apply this correlation technique to mock GW and abundance data, accounting for expected observational uncertainties in two limiting scenarios: GW events with electromagnetic counterpart (multi-messenger 'bright-sirens') and without ('dark-sirens'). Using Fisher forecasts, we demonstrate that the fractional cumulative contribution of BNS mergers to the total cosmic r-process $F_{\rm{BNS,z0}}$ can be estimated to the $\lesssim 5-6\%$ precision level for both scenarios at $1σ$ for fiducial astrophysical scenarios with $F_{\rm{BNS,z0}} \gtrsim 0.1-1$. Furthermore, the method also yields estimates of the BNS delay-time distribution parameters comparable to other approaches. Although cosmic r-process abundances may be reconstructed from local observations at low metallicity, this method also provides a science case to identify signatures of neutron-capture elements beyond the local Universe. |
| format | Preprint |
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arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2605_23554 |
| institution | arXiv |
| publishDate | 2026 |
| record_format | arxiv |
| spellingShingle | Inferring the role of binary neutron star mergers in r-process nucleosynthesis with multi-messenger observations using Cosmic Explorer and Einstein Telescope Agarwal, Aman Mukherjee, Suvodip Siegel, Daniel M. High Energy Astrophysical Phenomena General Relativity and Quantum Cosmology Identifying the cosmic origin of rapid neutron-capture (r-process) elements remains an open problem. Binary neutron-star (BNS) mergers and rare classes of core-collapse supernovae (CCSNe) represent the main contenders as major r-process production sites. Although BNS mergers could exclusively account for r-process nucleosynthesis, results from chemical evolution studies taking into account their delays with respect to star formation, observed BNS rates by gravitational-wave (GW) detectors, as well as issues with retention in low-mass halos suggest otherwise. Here, we propose a method to measure the contribution of BNS mergers to cosmic r-process nucleosynthesis with the third-generation GW detectors Cosmic Explorer and Einstein Telescope. It exploits the redshift-dependent correlation between the total number of BNS GW events and the average r-process abundances at redshifts $z \lesssim 1$. We apply this correlation technique to mock GW and abundance data, accounting for expected observational uncertainties in two limiting scenarios: GW events with electromagnetic counterpart (multi-messenger 'bright-sirens') and without ('dark-sirens'). Using Fisher forecasts, we demonstrate that the fractional cumulative contribution of BNS mergers to the total cosmic r-process $F_{\rm{BNS,z0}}$ can be estimated to the $\lesssim 5-6\%$ precision level for both scenarios at $1σ$ for fiducial astrophysical scenarios with $F_{\rm{BNS,z0}} \gtrsim 0.1-1$. Furthermore, the method also yields estimates of the BNS delay-time distribution parameters comparable to other approaches. Although cosmic r-process abundances may be reconstructed from local observations at low metallicity, this method also provides a science case to identify signatures of neutron-capture elements beyond the local Universe. |
| title | Inferring the role of binary neutron star mergers in r-process nucleosynthesis with multi-messenger observations using Cosmic Explorer and Einstein Telescope |
| topic | High Energy Astrophysical Phenomena General Relativity and Quantum Cosmology |
| url | https://arxiv.org/abs/2605.23554 |