Assessment of Stellar Nucleosynthesis Abundances Using ENDF/B-VIII.0 and TENDL-2015 Evaluated Nuclear Data Libraries

Abstract

Evaluated Nuclear Data File (ENDF) libraries contain complete collections of reaction cross sections, angular distributions, fission yields and decay data. These data collections have been used worldwide in the nuclear industry and national security applications. The recently-released evaluated libraries were explored for nuclear astrophysics purposes and findings analyzed. Maxwellian-averaged cross sections (MACS) and astrophysical reaction rates were calculated using the ENDF/B-VIII.0 and Talys Evaluated Nuclear Data Library (TENDL) data sets. The calculated cross sections were combined with the solar system abundances and fitted using the classical model of stellar nucleosynthesis. Astrophysical abundances for rapid- and slow-neutron capture, r- and s-processes, respectively, were extracted from the present data and compared with available values. The current results demonstrate the large potential of evaluated libraries and mutually-beneficial relations between the nuclear industry and research efforts.