Synthesis of ‘‘Light’’ Heavy Elements upon the Explosion of a Low-Mass Neutron Star

The explosion of a minimal-mass neutron star formed in the course of the evolution of a close binary of neutron stars markedly differing in mass is considered. The abundance of heavy elements produced during the expansion of matter of the external neutron-star core after the explosion of a low-mass neutron star is calculated. It is shown that, in this scenario, a weak r-process proceeds in the external core, leading to the formation of a ‘‘light’’ fraction of heavy elements.