Nucleosynthesis-Rate Dependence of Abundances of Nuclei Produced in the r-Process

Abstract

The rate of neutron-induced nucleosynthesis of heavy nuclei is determined by the astrophysical scenario and by the rate of beta decay of nuclei involved in the r-process. The effect of beta-decay rates calculated within various theoretical models on the abundances of heavy nuclei is analyzed on the basis of the yields of heavy nuclei in the r-process and the determination of their sensitivity to input data. It is shown that a sizable change in the r-process rate has a strong effect on the process of formation of the third peak in the abundance curve and on the size and position of this peak.