2013/09/02 by N. J. Costiris, E. Mavrommatis, Costiris, N. J. +5
Earth and Planetary Sciences · Physics and Astronomy · #Earth Systems and Cosmic Evolution #FOS: Physical sciences #Nuclear Theory (nucl-th) #Nuclear physics research studies #Statistical Mechanics and Entropy
paper · pdf · doi:10.48550/arxiv.1309.0540
openalex publication_date 2013/09/02 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28
Purpose: Our objective is to apply an improved statistical global model of beta- decay half-life systematics [1] generated by machine-learning techniques to the prediction of beta half-lives relevant to r-process nuclei. The primary aim of this application is to complement existing r-process-clock and matter-flow studies, thereby providing additional theoretical support for the planning of future activities of the world's network of rare-isotope laboratories. Results: Results are presented for nuclides situated on the r-ladders at N=50, 82, and 126 where abundances peak, as well as for nuclides that affect abundances between peaks or may be relevant to r-processes under different astrophysical scenarios. The half-lives of some of the targeted neutron-rich nuclides have either been recently measured or will be accessible at rare-isotope laboratories in the relatively near future. The results of our large-scale data-driven half-life calculations (generated by a "theory-thin" global statistical model) are compared to available experimental data, including recent measurements on very neutron-rich nuclei along an r-process path far from the valley of β stability. Comparison is also made with corresponding results from traditional global models derived by semi-phenomenological "theory-thick" approaches.