The Rise of the r-process in the Gaia-Sausage/Enceladus Dwarf Galaxy ∗

Abstract

Neutron star mergers (NSMs) produce r-process elements after a time-delayed inspiral process. Once a significant number of NSMs are present in a galaxy, r-process elements, such as Eu, are expected to significantly increase with time. Yet, there have been limited observational data in support of Eu increasing within Local Group galaxies. We have obtained high-resolution Magellan/MIKE observations of 43 metal-poor stars in the Gaia-Sausage/Enceladus (GSE) tidally disrupted galaxy with −2.5 < [Fe/H] < −1. For the first time, we find a clear rise in [Eu/Mg] with increasing [Mg/H] within one galaxy. We use a simple chemical evolution model to study how such a rise can result from the interplay of prompt and delayed r-process enrichment events. Delayed r-process sources are required to explain the rise and subsequent leveling off of [Eu/Mg] in this disrupted galaxy. However, the rise may be explained by delayed r-process sources with either short (∼10 Myr) or long (∼500 Myr) minimum delay times. Future studies on the nature of r-process sources and their enrichment processes in the GSE will require additional stars in the GSE at even lower metallicities than the present study.