The rp-process in Type-I X-ray Bursts with REACLIB V1.0

Nuclear astrophysics is a rich and diverse field of research, requiring knowledge of experiments, observations, and modeling. Of key importance to modeling is the nuclear physics input, whether it be thermonuclear reaction rates or weak decay rates. The Joint Institute for Nuclear Astrophysics (JINA) has taken a leading role in maintaining an up-to-date database of these rates. The database can be accessed at the location: http://www.nscl.msu.edu/∼nero/ db/. The JINA REA-CLIB Database, based on F. Thielemann's 1995 REACLIB, has been updated to incorporate the latest weak decay data, as well as new experimental/theoretical reaction rates relevant for various nucleosynthetic processes. Included in the newly released REACLIB V1.0 library are several rates which have been fit using a new method which pays close consideration to physicality. In order to assess the impact of the new rates, comparisons were made against an older reaction rate library via X-ray burst simulations. Being heavily dependent on thermonuclear reaction rates, X-ray burst simulations are ideal for such a comparison.