Neutrino-driven wind simulations and nucleosynthesis of heavy elements

Neutrino-driven winds, which follow core-collapse supernova explosions, present a fascinating nuclear-astrophysics problem that requires an understanding of advanced astrophysics simulations, the properties of matter and neutrino interactions under extreme conditions, the structure and reactions of exotic nuclei, and comparisons with forefront astronomical observations. The neutrino-driven wind has attracted vast attention over the last 20 years as it was suggested as a candidate for the astrophysics site where half of the heavy elements are produced via the r-process. In this review, we summarize our present understanding of neutrino-driven winds from the dynamical and nucleosynthesis perspectives. Rapid progress has been made during recent years in understanding the wind with improved simulations and better micro physics. The current status of the fields is that hydrodynamical simulations do not reach the extreme conditions necessary for the r-process, and the proton or neutron richness of the wind remains to be investigated in more detail. However, nucleosynthesis studies and observations already point to neutrino-driven winds to explain the origin of lighter heavy elements, such as Sr, Y, Zr.