The detection of the gravitational wave GW170817 produced by the merger of two neutron stars and the electromagnetic signals associated to it has been a breakthrough for many areas of Physics.
In particular, thanks to the work of Gabriel Martínez-Pinedo (PhD from the UAM, and former assistant professor in our Department, now full Professor at the Technical University of Darmstadt and GSI) and collaborators, it has been possible to conclude that these mergers are the long sought site of the r-process, responsible for the production of heavy elements like for instance, Gold, Platinum and Uranium. More details in the following link:
More Information (External link)
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