Nuclear physics in the N≈126 region relevant for the r process

Abstract

Understanding how the heavy chemical elements are made in the astrophysical r-process requires information on both the properties of the nuclei involved and that of the environment. The availability of experimental information on the neutron-rich N∼126 nuclei is discussed, with emphasis on phenomena specifically relevant to this region: the large role of first-forbidden β decays, and that of the Δn=0 selection rule in Gamow-Teller decays. The development of nuclear data bases by combining different theoretical approaches is suggested.