The impact of natal kicks on galactic r-process enrichment by neutron star mergers

We study galactic enrichment with rapid neutron capture (r-process) elements in cosmological, magnetohydrodynamical simulations of a Milky Way-mass galaxy. include variety models, based on either star mergers or rare class core-collapse supernova as sole r-process sources. For the first time cosmological simulations, we implement natal kicks on-the-fly to their impact. With kicks, are more likely occur outside galaxy disc, but how far binaries travel before merging also depends kick velocity distribution and shape delay for mergers. In our fiducial model, median abundance ratio is somewhat lower trend metallicity slightly steeper when included. model 'optimized' better match observations, higher rate early mergers, abundances fairly unaffected by kicks. both scatter much larger especially at low metallicity, giving rise enhanced stars. experimented range velocities find that velocities, reduced, still than without discuss possibility observed predominantly caused removing sources from birth sites, making inhomogeneous, rather usual interpretation set rarity its production source.