Neutron capture rates and r-process nucleosynthesis

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.

10 pages, 5 figures, appears in the Proceedings of the 14th International Symposium on Capture Gamma-Ray Spectroscopy and Related Topics