What the study found
Some r-process, or rapid neutron-capture, isotope residuals in the solar system remain significantly uncertain because uncertainties in s-process, or slow neutron-capture, abundances propagate into them.
Why the authors say this matters
The authors say this is important because r-process residuals are used as a benchmark in stellar models of explosive nucleosynthesis, and revisiting key neutron-capture cross sections may refine that abundance pattern.
What the researchers tested
The researchers revisited the problem using a simplified approach based on the earlier multi-event s-process model of Goriely. They assumed that the relative uncertainty in s-process isotopic abundances scales linearly with Maxwellian Averaged Cross Section (MACS) uncertainties from the KADoNiS data libraries, and they used updated solar abundances from Lodders and s-process contributions from Bisterzo et al.
What worked and what didn't
Their analysis identified a short list of isotopes whose r-process residuals remain especially uncertain. Those isotopes are presented as prime candidates for improved neutron-capture ((n,γ), neutron capture with gamma-ray emission) measurements at CERN n_TOF.
What to keep in mind
The abstract does not describe detailed numerical results or list the isotopes in the summary provided here. It also states a simplified framework, so the conclusions are limited to the assumptions and input data used in this analysis.
Key points
- R-process residuals in solar isotopic abundances inherit uncertainty from s-process abundance uncertainties.
- The analysis uses a simplified version of a multi-event s-process model.
- Uncertainty in s-process abundances is assumed to scale linearly with MACS uncertainties from KADoNiS.
- A short list of isotopes is identified as especially uncertain in their r-process residuals.
- The authors present these isotopes as candidates for improved (n,γ) measurements at CERN n_TOF.
Disclosure
- Research title:
- Neutron-capture uncertainties limit r-process residuals
- Authors:
- C. Domingo-Pardo, C. Lederer-Woods, A. Mengoni
- Institutions:
- Universitat de València, Instituto de Física Corpuscular, University of Edinburgh, National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development, Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Sezione di Bologna, European Organization for Nuclear Research
- Publication date:
- 2026-04-27
- OpenAlex record:
- View
Get the weekly research newsletter
Stay current with peer-reviewed research without reading academic papers — one filtered digest, every Friday.