Sensitivity studies for the weak r-process: Beta decay and Neutron capture

The rapid neutron capture process (r-process) is responsible for producing the heaviest elements in our universe. Traces of these r-process elements are not only found in observations of our Solar neighborhood, but also in the atmospheres of distant metal-poor stars in our Galaxy. In comparison, their elemental abundance patterns are in better agreement in the heavier element region, produced via main r-process, than the lighter elements making the weak r-process region (70 < A < 120) crucial to explore r-process origins. Here we describe a set of beta-decay and neutron capture sensitivity studies for weak r-process species which include both individual and global Monte Carlo variations. In addition, we identify the phases of the r-process in which the half lives and capture rates have the greatest leverage on the final abundance yields of main and weak r-process trajectories.