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

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