Sensitivity studies for the r-process have sought to provide a roadmap for the individual nuclei whose nuclear properties most influence heavy element abundances. Such studies which considered adjustments to $\beta$-decay, neutron capture, and nuclear mass inputs are presently used by numerous experimental campaigns seeking to probe the properties of astrophysically significant neutron-rich...
Mergers of binary neutron stars and neutron star-black hole systems have been recently proposed as the main site for the r-process nucleosynthesis. The mergers release about a percent of a solar mass of highly neutron-rich material, which after some time should form a nebula in the interstellar medium similar to a supernova remnant (SNR). While hundreds of SNRs have been detected in our galaxy...
An unexpected upbend in the low-energy γ-ray strength function (γSF) was first observed in $^{56}$Fe fifteen years ago. Since then, this enhancement has been found in many nuclei near stability. The presence of this enhancement, or upbend, could have significant influence on neutron-capture rates, crucial for nucleosynthesis models. Experimentally, the γSF and nuclear level density (NLD) of...
The rapid neutron capture process, or r process, is a primary method of synthesis for elements heavier than iron. Candidate astrophysical sites for the r process include neutron and black hole mergers and core collapse supernovae. However, no r-process site candidate seems to encompass the entire r-process path and the combination of multiple sites is currently being considered, especially for...
Fission has often been a neglected nuclear physics input for r-process simulations, despite its effect on the presence of long-lived actinides and influence in creation of the second (A~130) peak. I cover recent progress made at Los Alamos in improving fission properties relevant for the rapid neutron capture process (r-process). These new calculations include results for neutron-induced...
