Impact of nuclear masses near closed shells on $r$-process abundances
NIC2014 Debrecen, Hungary
Invited presentation on 07/2014
Nuclear masses are one of the key ingredients of nuclear physics that go into astrophysical simulations of the r process. Nuclear masses effect r-process abundances by entering into calculations of Q-values, neutron capture rates, photo-dissociation rates, beta-decay rates and the probability to emit neutrons. Most of the thousands of short-lived neutron-rich nuclei which are believed to participate in the r process lack any experimental verification, thus the identification of the most influential nuclei is of paramount importance. We have conducted mass sensitivity studies near closed shells in the context of a main r-process. Our studies take into account how an uncertainty in a single nuclear mass propagates to influence the relevant quantities of neighboring nuclei and finally to r-process abundances. Using various nuclear models and astrophysical conditions we identify key nuclei in these studies whose mass has a substantial impact on final r-process abundances and discuss implications for measurements at radioactive beam facilities.
This work was supported by the Joint Institute for Nuclear Astrophysics grant number PHY0822648.
Related Publications
Year | Authors | Title (Click for more details) | Journal (PDF) |
---|---|---|---|
2015 | M. Mumpower, R. Surman, D. L. Fang, M. Beard, et al. | The impact of uncertain nuclear masses near closed shells on the $r$-process abundance pattern | J. Phys. G 42 034027 |