Investigating the Role of Fission and the r-process in Heavy Isotope Creation in Neutron Star Mergers*

Gravitational waves and electromagnetic signatures observed in 2017 from a neutron star merger have raised several questions about the fission process. Although fission has been studied for over 80 years, we are realizing that there are still processes involved in it that we don't fully understand. This paper attempts to review the role of the r-process (rapid neutron capture process) and fission in relation to heavy isotope creation. It is possible that data from the atomic bomb tests done in the 1950's and 60's could reveal information about the r-process because of the high neutron density from the atomic explosions that allowed for the creation of neutron-rich nuclei. Examining this data could lead to a better understanding of the observed neutron star merger. As such, more work is needed and it is the hope that looking for solutions at Los Alamos will lead to an answer.