Rprocess
The rapid neutron capture process, or r-process, is a nucleosynthesis mechanism that builds elements heavier than iron. In environments with very high neutron flux, nuclei capture neutrons faster than they can beta-decay. When neutron exposure ends, the neutron-rich nuclei beta-decay toward stability, yielding the observed heavy-element abundance pattern.
The r-process path proceeds through very neutron-rich isotopes near the neutron drip line. Its outcome depends
Astrophysical sites include neutron star mergers, where neutron-rich ejecta naturally arise; GW170817 and its kilonova provided
Solar-system r-process abundances show peaks near A ≈ 130 and 195, reflecting a robust main pattern. Metal-poor
Nuclear physics uncertainties remain substantial: many r-process nuclei lie far from stability, leaving rates, half-lives, and
Compared with the slow s-process in asymptotic giant branch stars, the r-process accounts for roughly half of