Carbon-Oxygen Shell Mergers in Massive Stars featuring Lorenzo Roberti (INFN-LNS, Italy)

Hosted by: Artemis Tsantiri (University of Regina, Canada)

Abstract: Carbon-oxygen (C-O) shell mergers in the late evolutionary stages of massive stars play a crucial role in determining their final fate and have a significant impact on the pre-supernova and explosive nucleosynthesis. In this talk, I will explore the complex dynamics within C-O shells, and how these interactions drive the production of intermediate and heavy elements. In particular I will address how stellar models experiencing a C-O shell merger can efficiently produce odd-Z nuclei such as P, Cl, K, and Sc, the alpha elements S and Ar, and some of the heaviest p-nuclei. I will then outline how the occurrence of such a merger is necessary already in the early universe to explain Mg, K, and Sc abundances in extremely metal poor stars