Mass measurements among stable and unstable nuclei using the Canadian Penning trap mass spectrometer

从创造宇宙的大爆炸的残余物中形成组成我们宇宙的元素，仍然是一个令人着迷的谜题。虽然在解释轻同位素的产生方面取得了一些成功，但大部分较重元素的产生机制仍不清楚。基于正常、静静燃烧的恒星的计算不能再现今天观测到的宇宙中元素的丰度。据认为，这些元素的产生至少有一部分发生在爆炸性的天体物理事件(超新星和x射线爆发等)期间。它们是由短暂的、处于核结合极限的放射性核素之间的核反应提供动力的。这些原子核的原子质量对于理解这些过程是必不可少的，因为它们决定了释放的能量，并决定了在这些事件中发生的核反应链的路径。

The formation of the elements that make up our universe, from the remnants of the big bang that created it, continues to be a fascinating conundrum. While some success has been achieved in the explanation of the production of the light isotopes the mechanisms responsible for the production of the bulk of the heavier elements are still not clear. Calculations based on normal, quietly burning stars do not reproduce the observed abundances for the elements in the universe today. It is thought that at least part of the production of these elements took place during explosive astrophysical events (supernovae and x-ray bursts etc.) that are powered by nuclear reactions among short-lived, radioactive nuclides at the limits of nuclear binding. The atomic masses of these nuclei are essential to understanding these processes because they determine the energy released and determine the path of the nuclear reaction chains that take place in these events.