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

Understand

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.