Explosive Hydrogen Burning in Supernovae

Rapid proton capture is supposed to be responsible for the synthesis of a number of proton-rich nuclei. This process of hydrogen burning is considered here for mass elements, the atomic numbers of which range fromZ=10 toZ=20. The possible site for this process is assumed to be the outer envelope of the supernova at a proton number density (n _p )ranging fromn _p =10²² cm^-3 ton _p =10²⁸ cm^-3 at temperatures in the range ofT=2 3×10⁹ K. The capture path is determined by considering that a dynamical equilibrium between (p, γ) and (γ,p) reactions exists between the reacting nuclei. In this situation, the abundances of elements become proportional to the lifetime of β⁺ decaying nuclei at the waiting points. It is suggested that these rapid proton-capture reactions are responsible for the production of a number of nuclei in the rangeA≲40 during supernova outbursts.