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Table of Contents
Kilonovae
Kilonovae are electromagnetic transients observable in the infrared, optical, and ultraviolet bands. They originate from the neutron-rich outflows that are created during and after the merger of a binary neutron star or black hole – neutron star systems.
Heavy-element production
The following picture (source: Wikipedia) provides an overview about the creation process of chemical elements in our Universe. While most of the light elements are formed during the big bang (Hydrogen, Helium, Lithium), one needs nuclear physics reactions to form at a later stage more heavy elements. Important channels to produce elements are nuclear fusion in the center of stars or also supernova explosions. The heaviest elements that can be found in our Universe are created during and after the merger process of neutron stars.
Material that gets ejected from neutron stars (see image) leaves the system has initially very high neutron fraction and density. Later, once the matter decompresses due to its expansion, it becomes possible that heavy elements can form due to the so-called r-process
