Radioactive nuclei on accreting neutron stars Original Research Article

With new data from RXTE, Chandra, and XMM X-ray astronomy of accreting neutron stars enters a precision era. Precision nuclear physics from experiments with radioactive beams is needed to interpret the data. We review status and prospects of the nuclear physics, focusing on the nuclear reactions in X-ray bursts, in particular with heavy unstable nuclei beyond magnesium. At the NSCL Coupled Cyclotron Facility some of the major nuclear physics uncertainties are now being addressed using neutron removal reactions with radioactive beams.