ß-delayed neutron emission measurements around the third r-process abundance peak

Abstract

The elements heavier than iron are produced in the Universe mainly by means of the slow (s) and rapid (r) neutron capture processes (for a recent review see e.g. [1]). The latter nucleosynthesis mechanism occurs between the valley of stability and the neutron drip line, passing along the neutron shell closures where exceptionally long half-lives and small neutron capture cross sections yield the three characteristic abundance maxima at A ~ 80, 130 and 195.