The impact of nuclear masses near $N=82$ on $r$-process abundances

TL;DR

This study investigates how uncertainties in nuclear masses near N=82 affect r-process abundance predictions, highlighting key nuclei that influence nucleosynthesis outcomes and can be targeted for future measurements.

Contribution

First comprehensive mass sensitivity analysis in the N=82 region, linking nuclear mass uncertainties to r-process abundance variations and identifying critical nuclei for future experiments.

Findings

Mass uncertainties of ±0.5 MeV can cause up to tenfold changes in abundance predictions.

Identified key nuclei whose mass measurements could significantly improve r-process models.

Demonstrated the importance of precise nuclear mass data near N=82 for astrophysical nucleosynthesis.

Abstract

We have performed for the first time a complete $r$-process mass sensitivity study in the $N=82$ region. We take into account how an uncertainty in a single nuclear mass propagates to influence important quantities of neighboring nuclei, including Q-values and reaction rates. We demonstrate that nuclear mass uncertainties of $\pm0.5$ MeV in the $N=82$ region result in up to an order of magnitude local change in $r$-process abundance predictions. We identify key nuclei in the study whose mass has a substantial impact on final $r$-process abundances and could be measured at future radioactive beam facilities.