Triggering of i-process via proton ingestion in 3D convective simulations

Determine whether three-dimensional convection in massive, metal-poor stellar helium shells can trigger proton ingestion events that activate intermediate neutron-capture (i-) process nucleosynthesis prior to explosion, enabling production of enhanced first-peak elements without significant barium as required by the abundances of J0931+0038.

Background

The authors suggest the i-process as a promising avenue to produce J0931+0038’s combination of elevated Zn and first-peak neutron-capture elements with low Ba, potentially via proton ingestion in convective He shells.

They note, however, that existing 3D simulations do not yet establish whether the required proton ingestion is triggered, leaving the viability of this mechanism uncertain.