Neutrino Processes of Significance in Stars

Citation

Levine, Michael Jerry (1963) Neutrino Processes of Significance in Stars. Dissertation (Ph.D.), California Institute of Technology. doi:10.7907/PCA1-2K46. https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechTHESIS:01022013-143533677

Abstract

The transition probabilities and rates of dissipation of energy by the neutrino-antineutrino pairs are calculated for the processes: e^(-)+e^(+)→v+^(-/)v and e^(±)+y→e^(±) + v+^(-/)v, in the limit of a nondegenerate electron gas. These quantities are also calculated for the process y+y→v +^(-/v) using a nonlocal weak interaction; the resulting matrix elements are reduced by a symbol manipulation computer program. The energy dissipation rates for these processes, the urca process, and the pr ocesses e^(±)+(z,A)→e^(±)+(z,A)+v+^(-/)v and y+(z,A)→(z,A)+v+^(-/)v are compared. The process e^(+)+e^(-)→v+^(-/)v or e^(±)+y→e^(±)+v+^(-/)v is found to dominate in the range of temperatures and densities considered: 10^(8) °K ≤ T ≤5 x 10^(9)°K, 1gm/cm^(3) ≤ p ≤10^(6)gm/cm^(3).

Thesis Files