The origin of chemical elements heavier than iron is not yet fully understood. Around half of the heavy-element abundances beyond iron have been created by the rapid neutron capture process, the r process, taking place at least in binary neutron star mergers. In order to model the r process, precise data on nuclear masses are needed. In this project, we will produce heavy exotic nuclei in the JYFL-ACCLAB Accelerator Laboratory at the University of Jyväskylä and study their masses using novel techniques and instrumentation. Experiments at international radioactive beam facilities, such as ISOLDE at CERN and GSI/FAIR, will yield complementary data on masses of neutron-rich nuclei. Masses of several previously unknown, or poorly known nuclei and their long-lived excited states, isomers, will be measured. The results will be compared to state-of-the-art nuclear models and their impact on the r process will be studied in detail.

2023

2027