UC San Diego

We examine the effects of significant electron antineutrino fluxes on hydrogen burning. Specifically, we find that the bottleneck weak nuclear reactions in the traditional p-p chain and the hot CNO cycle can be accelerated by antineutrino capture, increasing the energy generation rate. We also discuss how antineutrino capture reactions can alter the conditions for break out into the rp-process. We speculate on the impact of these considerations for the evolution and dynamics of collapsing very massive and supermassive compact objects. © 2007. The American Astronomical Society. All rights reserved.