Meteoritic evidence for two r-processes and the HEW scenario

The relative abundances of the radionuclides I-129 and Hf-182 in the Early Solar System (ESS) in conjunction with observations on extremely metal-poor stars have been interpreted as evidence for two distinct types (L and H events) of the r-process. In particular, it has been postulated that iodine is produced exclusively during L events, while barium and elements above are produced by H events only. In this context we explore predictions from the high entropy wind (HEW) model for the r-process. Within this scenario, the full expected entropy range produces abundances which are inconsistent with these postulates. Only by excluding the entropy range below a precisely defined value can Ba and elements above be produced without significant contributions to iodine. Achieving the required clear cut at always the exactly same entropy value would be remarkable; the cut may have been a characteristic of the last r-process contribution, however. Alternative explanations for a relative overabundance of Hf-182 and/or a deficit of I-129 in the Early Solar System include a late neutron burst contribution to Hf-182 and a I-129 deficit due to the volatile nature of the element iodine. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.