The Skyrme-TQRPA calculations of electron capture on hot nuclei in pre-supernova environment

Abstract

We combine the thermal QRPA approach with the Skyrme energy density functional theory (Skyrme–TQRPA) for modelling the process of electron capture on nuclei in supernova environment. For a sample nucleus, ⁵⁶Fe, the Skyrme–TQRPA approach is applied to analyze thermal effects on the strength function of GT₊ transitions which dominate electron capture at E_e ≤ 30 MeV. Several Skyrme interactions are used in order to verify the sensitivity of the obtained results to the Skyrme force parameters. Finite-temperature cross sections are calculated and the results are comparedwith those of the other model calculations.