Recent progress on beta-decay for the r-process

Fall DNP, Philly

Invited presentation on 10/2026

Nuclear beta-decay is a fundamental driver of the rapid neutron-capture process (r-process), directly controlling the timescale for the synthesis of the heaviest elements in the universe. Beyond dictating nucleosynthetic yields, beta-decay provides the bulk of the energy that powers kilonova light curves and heavily influences late-time dynamics through beta-delayed neutron emission. This talk reviews recent progress in beta-decay studies and their application to the astrophysical r-process. In particular, we will highlight findings from our recent global sensitivity studies, which demonstrate that the impact of beta-decay on r-process outcomes is even more significant than previously realized. These results underscore the critical need for continued theoretical and experimental advances in nuclear beta-decay to accurately model the astrophysical origins of heavy elements.

Tags

beta-decay beta-delayed neutron emission kilonova r-process LANL Notre Dame Obsidian Research