Electron-capture rates at different density and temperature conditions are evaluated for a set of $pf$-shell nuclei representative of the constituents in presupernova formations. The nuclear structure part of the problem is described within a quasiparticle random-phase approximation based on a deformed Skyrme Hartree-Fock self-consistent mean field with pairing correlations and residual interactions in particle-hole and particle-particle channels. The energy distributions of the Gamow-Teller strength are evaluated and compared to benchmark shell-model calculations and experimental data extracted from charge-exchange reactions. The model dependence of the weak rates are discussed and the various sensitivities to both density and temperature are analyzed.

• Received 25 January 2013

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevC.87.045801