The sensitivity of nucleosynthesis in Type I X-ray bursts to thermonuclear reaction-rate variations

We examine the sensitivity of nucleosynthesis in Type I X-ray bursts to variations in nuclear rates. As a large number of nuclear processes are involved in these phenomena - with the vast majority of reaction rates only determined theoretically due to the lack of any experimental information - our results can provide a means for determining which rates play significant roles in the thermonuclear runaway. These results may then motivate new experiments. For Our studies, we have performed a comprehensive series of one-zone post-processing calculations in conjunction with various representative X-ray burst thermodynamic histories. We present those reactions whose rate variations have the largest effects on yields in our studies. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.