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

从氢到铀，构成我们宇宙的各种元素是如何从大爆炸的碎片中合成出来的，这仍然是一个令人着迷的难题。虽然在解释轻同位素的产生方面取得了一些成功，但大部分重元素产生的机制仍然不清楚。基于正常的、安静燃烧的恒星的计算不能再现这些元素的丰度。据认为，它们至少有一部分是在爆炸的天体物理事件（超新星和x射线爆发等）中产生的，这些事件是由核结合极限下的短寿命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至关重要，因为它们决定了释放的能量和在这些事件中发生的核反应链的路径。

How the elements, from hydrogen to uranium, that make up our universe, were synthesized from the debris of the big bang continues to be a fascinating conundrum. While some success has been achieved in explaining 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 these elements. It is thought that at least part of their production 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.