Investigating the impact of reaction rate uncertainties on Ti-44 and Ni-56 production in shock driven nucleosynthesis of core-collapse supernovae

Recent observational advances have enabled high resolution mapping of Ti-44 in core-collapse supernova (CCSN) remnants. Comparisons between observations and 3D models provide stringent constraints on the CCSN mechanism. However, recent work has identified several uncertain nuclear reaction rates that influence Ti-44 and Ni-56 production in model calculations. We use MESA (Modules for Experiments in Stellar Astrophysics) as a tool to investigate the previously identified sensitivities of Ti-44 and Ni-56 production in CCSN to varied reaction rates. MESA is a code for modeling stellar evolution and stellar explosions in one-dimension. We will present our final results of the sensitivity study and our plans to reduce or remove uncertainties from the most significant reaction rates using direct and indirect measurement techniques at the Edwards Accelerator Lab at Ohio University.