Direct Mass Measurements of Neutron-Rich Zinc and Gallium Isotopes: An Investigation of the Formation of the First r-Process Peak.

The prediction of isotopic abundances resulting from the rapid neutron capture process (r process) requires high-precision mass measurements. Using TITAN's on-line time-of-flight spectrometer, first time mass measurements are performed for ^{83}Zn and ^{86}Ga. These measurements reduced uncertainties, and are used to calculate isotopic abundances near the first r-process abundance peak using astrophysical conditions present during a binary neutron star (BNS) merger.

Mass Measurements of Neutron-Deficient Yb Isotopes and Nuclear Structure at the Extreme Proton-Rich Side of the N=82 Shell.

High-accuracy mass measurements of neutron-deficient Yb isotopes have been performed at TRIUMF using TITAN's multiple-reflection time-of-flight mass spectrometer (MR-TOF-MS). For the first time, an MR-TOF-MS was used on line simultaneously as an isobar separator and as a mass spectrometer, extending the measurements to two isotopes further away from stability than otherwise possible. The ground state masses of ^{150,153}Yb and the excitation energy of ^{151}Yb^{m} were measured for the first time.