Sensitivity studies for r-process nucleosynthesis in three astrophysical scenarios

Abstract

In rapid neutron capture, or r-process, nucleosynthesis, heavy elements are built up via a sequence of neutron captures and beta decays that involves thousands of nuclei far from stability. Though we understand the basics of how the r-process proceeds, its astrophysical site is still not conclusively known. The nuclear network simulations we use to test potential astrophysical scenarios require nuclear physics data (masses, beta decay lifetimes, neutron capture rates, fission probabilities) for all of the nuclei on the neutron-rich side of the nuclear chart, from the valley of stability to the neutron drip line. Here we discuss recent sensitivity studies that aim to determine which individual pieces of nuclear data are the most crucial for r-process calculations. We consider three types of astrophysical scenarios: a traditional hot r-process, a cold r-process in which the temperature and density drop rapidly, and a neutron star merger trajectory.

8 pages, 4 figures, submitted to the Proceedings of the International Nuclear Physics Conference (INPC) 2013

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Cited by in corpus (9)

• The impact of individual nuclear masses on $r$-process abundances
• First measurement of several $\beta$-delayed neutron emitting isotopes beyond N=126
• Beta decay of deformed r-process nuclei near A = 80 and A= 160, including odd-A and odd-odd nuclei, with the Skyrme finite-amplitude method
• Impact of new data for neutron-rich heavy nuclei on theoretical models for $r$-process nucleosynthesis
• Continuum quasiparticle random phase approximation for astrophysical direct neutron capture reaction of neutron-rich nuclei
• First determination of $\beta$-delayed multiple neutron emission beyond A = 100 through direct neutron measurement: The P${}_{2n}$ value of ${}^{136}$Sb
• The thermalization of $\gamma$-rays in radioactive expanding ejecta: A simple model and its application for Kilonovae and Ia SNe
• Indirect measurement of the $(n,\gamma {)}^{127}$Sb cross section
• Shell-model study for allowed and forbidden ${\beta }^{-}$ decay properties in the mass region "south" of ${}^{208}$Pb