TOF-Bρ Mass Measurement of Neutron Rich Nuclei at the NSCL.

Experimental knowledge of nuclear masses of exotic nuclei is important for understanding nuclear structure far from the valley of β-stability, and as a direct input into astrophysical models. In the case of astrophysical processes involving neutron rich nuclei, such as nucleosynthesis during the r-process and the evolution of matter in the crust of an accreting neutron star, we are mostly limited to using theoretical mass models. The time of flight (TOF) mass measurement technique allows measuring very short-lived nuclei. It has been effectively applied using the fast fragment beams produced at the A1900 fragment separator at the National Superconducting Cyclotron Lab (NSCL) to reach masses very far from stability. We describe a recent mass measurement experiment in the neutron rich Fe region performed at the NSCL, and present preliminary results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]