Neutrino nucleosynthesis in supernovae: Shell model predictions

Abstract

Almost all of the 3 · 10⁵³ ergs liberated in a core collapse supernova is radiated as neutrinos by the cooling neutron star. I will argue that these neutrinos interact with nuclei in the ejected shells of the supernovae to produce new elements. It appears that this nucleosynthesis mechanism is responsible for the galactic abundances of ⁷Li, ¹¹B, ¹⁹F. ¹³⁸La, and ¹⁸⁰Ta, and contributes significantly to the abundances of about 15 other light nuclei. I discuss shell model predictions for the charged and neutral current allowed and first-forbidden responses of the parent nuclei, as well as the spallation processes that produce the new elements.