REACTION-RATES AND REACTION SEQUENCES IN THE RP-PROCESS

Hot hydrogen burning has been analyzed for temperatures and densities typical for explosive burning on compact objects and in supernovae. Re action flow impedances due to cyclic reaction sequences, the role of w aiting point nuclei, and the transition from the rp-process to the alp hap-process are discussed as a function of increasing temperature and nuclear properties. The analysis gives a clear indication of which nuc lei play a crucial role in the burning process. It is here where exper imental verifications of the presented reaction rate estimates are hig hly desirable. The same nuclei can also be utilized to devise minimum- size energy generation networks to be employed in hydrodynamic explosi on calculations. Examples for specific conditions during supernova exp losions, nova outbursts, X-ray bursts, or the evolution of Thorne-Zytk ow objects are given, with typical abundance patterns expected in such events.