Sensitivities of rp-process calculations to nuclear mass uncertainties Original Research Article

Uncertainties in nuclear binding energies affect the reliability of type I X-ray burst calculations considerably. However, recent advances in theory and experimental facilities promise to remove most of the uncertainties. We will present the results of a sensitivity study of type I X-ray burst light curves on nuclear masses in the region A = 60 − 75. We will then discuss improvements through new mass calculations and the possibilities for reducing remaining uncertainties with new experimental techniques at the National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory (NSCL) at Michigan State University (MSU).