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.