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Updated: Jul 12, 2025
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Investigation of Early Plasma Evolution Induced by Ultrashort Laser Pulses
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Heavy-element production in a compact object merger observed by JWST
Andrew J Levan1,2, Benjamin P Gompertz3,4, Om Sharan Salafia5,6
1Department of Astrophysics, Institute for Mathematics, Astrophysics and Particle Physics (IMAPP), Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands. a.levan@astro.ru.nl.
Nature
|October 25, 2023
Summary
Observations of a bright gamma-ray burst (GRB) revealed a kilonova, indicating heavy element production. The James Webb Space Telescope detected tellurium and lanthanides, confirming GRBs create diverse r-process elements.
Area of Science:
- Astrophysics
- Nuclear Astrophysics
- Cosmology
Background:
- Binary compact object mergers are key astrophysical events.
- These mergers are linked to gamma-ray bursts (GRBs), gravitational waves (GWs), and heavy element nucleosynthesis (r-process).
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the exceptionally bright GRB 230307A.
- To investigate its association with compact object mergers and kilonova emission.
- To determine the nucleosynthesis products and their role in cosmic heavy element production.
Main Methods:
- Observations of GRB 230307A, a long-duration GRB associated with compact object mergers.
- Mid-infrared imaging and spectroscopy using the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST).
- Analysis of spectral emission lines and source color to identify synthesized elements.
Main Results:
- GRB 230307A exhibited a kilonova similar to AT2017gfo.
- JWST spectroscopy detected a 2.15-micron emission line, identified as tellurium (atomic mass 130).
- The source was very red, emitting primarily in the mid-infrared due to lanthanide production.
Conclusions:
- GRB-associated kilonovae are significant sites for r-process nucleosynthesis.
- Nucleosynthesis in GRBs produces r-process elements across a wide atomic mass range.
- These events play a central role in the universe's heavy element budget.
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