Theoretical Research in Nuclear Astrophysics

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A theoretical research program in nuclear astrophysics will be carried out. Specific areas of study will include investigations in nuclear physics, classical novae and related phenomena, nucleosynthesis, galactic chemical evolution, and the origin of globular clusters. Major problems to be addressed include: (1) the determination of thermonuclear reaction and weak interaction rates relevant to diverse astrophysical studies; (2) the analysis of the general case of electron screening; (3) an analysis of the controlling physics of the super-Eddington phase of evolution of classical novae in outburst; (4) the possible consequences of the phase of commom envelope evolution that is known to be experienced by most classical novae in outburst; (5) the nature of outbursts triggered by high accretion rates onto hot white dwarfs; (6) nucleosynthesis accompanying classical nova outbursts, including the production of the radioactivities sodium 22 (22Na) and aluminum 26 (26Al); (7) the consequences of silicon burning in massive stars of low initial metallicities; (8) the operation of the r-process in the expansion and cooling of highly neutronized matter; (9) s-process nucleosynthesis in red giant stars; (10) nuclear cosmochronology; (11) the evolution of the lithium abundance in the galaxy; (12) the implications of abundances in metal deficient stars for early galactic chemical evolution; and (13) the nature of the origin and early evolution of the Milky Way globular clusters.