title: Impact of new data for neutron-rich heavy nuclei on theoretical models for r-process nucleosynthesis.
abstract: Current models for the r process are summarized with an emphasis on the key constraints from both nuclear physics measurements and astronomical observations. In particular, we analyze the importance of nuclear physics input such as beta-decay rates; nuclear masses; neutron-capture cross sections; beta-delayed neutron emission; probability of spontaneous fission, beta- and neutron-induced fission, fission fragment mass distributions; neutrino-induced reaction cross sections, etc. We highlight the effects on models for r-process nucleosynthesis of newly measured β-decay half-lives, masses, and spectroscopy of neutron-rich nuclei near the r-process path. We overview r-process nucleosynthesis in the neutrino driven wind above the proto-neutron star in core collapse supernovae along with the possibility of magneto-hydrodynamic jets from rotating supernova explosion models. We also consider the possibility of neutron star mergers as an r-process environment. A key outcome of newly measured nuclear properties far from stability is the degree of shell quenching for neutron rich isotopes near the closed neutron shells. This leads to important constraints on the sites for r-process nucleosynthesis in which freezeout occurs on a rapid timescale.
authors.affiliation: International Research Center for Big-Bang Cosmology and Element Genesis, and School of Physics and Nuclear Energy Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing 100191, People's Republic of China. Division of Theoretical Astronomy, National Astronomical Observatory of Japan, 2-21-1 Osawa, Mitaka, Tokyo, 181-8588, Japan. Department of Astronomy, Graduate School of Science, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-033, Japan.
authors.forename: Toshitaka
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kajino
authors.forename: Grant J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Mathews