Neutron captures and the $r$-process nucleosynthesis
R. Surman, G. C. McLaughlin, M. Mumpower, W. Hix, K. Jones, R. Sinclair
Published CGS14 (2012)
Simulations of r-process nucleosynthesis require nuclear physics information for thousands of neutron-rich nuclear species from the line of stability to the neutron drip line. While arguably the most important pieces of nuclear data for the r-process are the masses and beta decay rates, individual neutron capture rates can also be of key importance in setting the final r-process abundance pattern. Here we consider the influence of neutron capture rates in forming the $A\sim 80$ and rare earth peaks.