Impact of nuclear mass uncertainties on the $r$-process

TL;DR

This paper investigates how uncertainties in nuclear mass models affect the predicted abundance patterns of elements produced in the astrophysical r-process, highlighting the importance of microphysics near neutron shell closures.

Contribution

It introduces systematic uncertainty bands for r-process abundances based on different nuclear density functional theory models, a first in the field.

Findings

Uncertainty bands vary near neutron shell closures.

Features of microphysics influence abundance peaks and troughs.

Nuclear mass modeling impacts r-process yield predictions.

Abstract

Nuclear masses play a fundamental role in understanding how the heaviest elements in the Universe are created in the $r$-process. We predict $r$-process nucleosynthesis yields using neutron capture and photodissociation rates that are based on nuclear density functional theory. Using six Skyrme energy density functionals based on different optimization protocols, we determine for the first time systematic uncertainty bands -- related to mass modeling -- for $r$-process abundances in realistic astrophysical scenarios. We find that features of the underlying microphysics make an imprint on abundances especially in the vicinity of neutron shell closures: abundance peaks and troughs are reflected in trends of neutron separation energy. Further advances in nuclear theory and experiments, when linked to observations, will help in the understanding of astrophysical conditions in extreme $r$-process sites.