Structure and astrophysical role of the neutron-rich $$55 \le Z \le 92$$ isotopes: status and perspectives

Abstract Heavy neutron-rich nuclei are of great interest. Phenomena like shell evolution ( $$N\sim 126$$ <mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"> <mml:mrow> <mml:mi>N</mml:mi> <mml:mo>∼</mml:mo> <mml:mn>126</mml:mn> </mml:mrow> </mml:math> , $$Z\sim 82$$ <mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"> <mml:mrow> <mml:mi>Z</mml:mi> <mml:mo>∼</mml:mo> <mml:mn>82</mml:mn> </mml:mrow> </mml:math> ), prolate–triaxial–oblate–spherical shape evolution ( $$Z=$$ <mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"> <mml:mrow> <mml:mi>Z</mml:mi> <mml:mo>=</mml:mo> </mml:mrow> </mml:math> 70–80), possible deformed shell closures or structure change in the rare-earth region are under intense scrutiny. This latter is closely linked to the rare-earth r -process peak, while the $$N \sim 126$$ <mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"> <mml:mrow> <mml:mi>N</mml:mi> <mml:mo>∼</mml:mo> <mml:mn>126</mml:mn> </mml:mrow> </mml:math> nuclei are connected to the third r -process peak at $$A \sim 195$$ <mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"> <mml:mrow> <mml:mi>A</mml:mi> <mml:mo>∼</mml:mo> <mml:mn>195</mml:mn> </mml:mrow> </mml:math> . Recent technical developments (e.g. increasing beam intensities at fragmentation facilities, new detection systems) provided huge amount of new experimental data, published in the last decade, allowing to probe structure and astrophysical models. Experimental methods and recent results are reviewed and future opportunities discussed.