r-Java: an r-process code and graphical user interface for heavy-element nucleosynthesis

¹ Department of Physics and AstronomyUniversity of Calgary, 2500 University Drive NW, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada
e-mail: rouyed@ucalgary.ca
² Départment de Physique, École Normale Supérieure de Cachan, 94230 Cachan, France
³ Department of Physics and Astronomy, California State University Long Beach, 1250 Bellflower Blvd., Long Beach, California 90840, USA
⁴ Institute of Mathematical Sciences, CIT Campus, Chennai 600113, India

Received: 3 April 2011
Accepted: 19 May 2011

Abstract

We present r-Java, an r-process code for open use that performs r-process nucleosynthesis calculations. Equipped with a simple graphical user interface, r-Java is capable of carrying out nuclear statistical equilibrium (NSE), as well as static and dynamic r-process calculations, for a wide range of input parameters. In this introductory paper, we present the motivation and details behind r-Java and results from our static and dynamic simulations. Static simulations are explored for a range of neutron irradiation and temperatures. Dynamic simulations are studied with a parameterized expansion formula. Our code generates the resulting abundance pattern based on a general entropy expression that can be applied to both degenerate and non-degenerate matter, allowing us to track the rapid density and temperature evolution of the ejecta during the initial stages of ejecta expansion. At present, our calculations are limited to the waiting-point approximation. We encourage the nuclear astrophysics community to provide feedback on the code and related documentation, which is available for download from the website of the Quark-Nova Project: http://quarknova.ucalgary.ca/.