Nuclear physics and neutron-rich nucleosynthesis

ANL Seminar Chicago, IL

Invited presentation on 11/2018

Last August marked the first observation of gravitational waves and electromagnetic signals from the merging of two neutron stars sending ripples through the astrophysics, atomic physics, nuclear physics and gravitational wave communities. I will briefly overview the GW170817 event including the resultant kilonova, or electromagnetic transient powered by the radioactive decay of freshly produced heavy nuclei. Since some amount of heavy nuclei were created, the rapid neutron capture process or r-process nucleosynthesis is likely to have ensued. I will discuss this possibility and then focus the talk on recent nuclear structure and reaction work performed at Los Alamos that is relevant for the inclusion in nucleosynthesis calculations. I will end with a discussion of current and future measurement campaigns at ANL that could transform our understanding of neutron-rich nuclei and their role in the formation of the heaviest elements.

LA-UR-18-31129

Link

Related Publications

Year Authors Title (Click for more details) Journal (PDF)
2018 Y. Zhu, R. T. Wollaeger, N. Vassh, R. Surman, et al. Californium-254 and kilonova light curves ApJL 863 2
2018 R. Orford, N. Vassh, J. Clark, G. C. McLaughlin, et al. Precision mass measurements of neutron-rich neodymium and samarium isotopes and their role in understanding rare-earth peak formation PRL 120, 262702
2018 B. Côtè, C. L. Fryer, K. Belczynski, O. Korobkin, et al. The origin of r-process elements in the Milky Way ApJ 855 2
2015 P. Möller, A. Sierk, T. Ichikawa, A. Iwamoto, et al. Fission barriers at the end of the chart of nuclides Phys. Rev C 91 024310

Contact Me

Mail

Matthew Mumpower
Los Alamos National Lab
MS B283
TA-3 Bldg 123
Los Alamos, NM 87545

Office Phone

(505) 667-5671