Can a large neutron excess help solve the baryon loading problem in gamma-Ray burst fireballs?

We point out that the baryon loading problem in gamma-ray burst (GRB) models can be ameliorated if a significant fraction of the baryons which inertially confine the fireball is converted to neutrons. A high neutron fraction can result in a reduced transfer of energy from relativistic light particles in the fireball to baryons. The energy needed to produce the required relativistic flow in the GRB is consequently reduced, in some cases by orders of magnitude. A high neutron-to-proton ratio has been calculated in neutron star-merger fireball environments. Significant neutron excess also could occur near compact objects with high neutrino fluxes.

Evidence of Multiple r-Process Sites in the Early Galaxy: New Observations of CS 22892-052.

First results are reported of a new abundance study of neutron-capture elements in the ultra-metal-poor (&sqbl0;Fe&solm0;H&sqbr0;=-3.1) halo field giant star CS 22892-052. Using new high-resolution, high signal-to-noise ratio spectra, abundances of more than 30 neutron-capture elements (Z>30) have been determined. Six elements in the 40/=56) stable neutron-capture elements in CS 22892-052 match well the scaled solar system r-process abundance distribution. From the observed Th abundance, an average age of approximately 16+/-4 Gyr is derived for CS 22892-052, consistent with the lower age limit of approximately 11 Gyr derived from the upper limit on the U abundance. The concordance of scaled solar r-process and CS 22892-052 abundances breaks down for the lighter neutron-capture elements, supporting previous suggestions that different r-process production sites are responsible for lighter and heavier neutron-capture elements.