Revision of the derivation of stellar rates from experiment and impact on Eu s-process contributions

Abstract

A new, general formalism to include experimental data in revised stellar rates is discussed, containing revised uncertainties. Application to the s-process shows that the actual uncertainties in the neutron capture rates can be larger than would be expected from the experimental errors alone. As a specific example for how astrophysical conclusions can depend on the approach selected to derive stellar rates, the 151Eu/(151Eu+153 Eu) abundance ratio from AGB star models is presented. Finally, a recommended workflow for the derivation of stellar rates from experiment is laid out.