Nuclei in the Cosmos XII - Satellite Workshop

Despite more than half a century of intensive research, the nucleosynthesis of heavy nuclei remains is still an open questions in nuclear astrophysics. Besides the unknown scenario where the rapid neutron-capture process occurs, new incognita about the very synthesis mechanism are presently under study. The Puzzle will only be solved when the properties of the neutron-rich nuclei involved are well understood. In this talk, I will discuss several NSCL r-process motivated experiments aimed at studying beta-decay and structural properties of neutron-rich nuclei. Experimental techniques and analysis methods will be presented, along with new results for nuclei in the region N=56-60. Future opportunities will be discussed in the light of the new FRIB and ReA facilities at MSU, emphasizing the type of experiments that will contribute to a deeper understanding of the R-process.