Neutron capture rates and r-process nucleosynthesis

TL;DR

This paper investigates how neutron capture rates influence the formation of specific abundance peaks in r-process nucleosynthesis, emphasizing their importance alongside nuclear masses and beta decay rates.

Contribution

It highlights the significance of neutron capture rates in shaping r-process abundance patterns, especially around the A~80 and rare earth peaks.

Findings

Neutron capture rates impact the formation of abundance peaks.

Neutron capture rates are crucial alongside masses and beta decay rates.

The study emphasizes the importance of accurate neutron capture data.

Abstract

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~80 and rare earth peaks.