Fission barriers and fragment yields of r-process actinides
In plain words
In the most neutron-rich environments the r-process builds nuclei heavy enough to split by fission, and the fragments seed lighter elements. How these nuclei split is predicted only by uncertain models.
Precise statement
For neutron-rich nuclei with $Z = 90\ \text{to}\ 105$ and $A = 250\ \text{to}\ 300$, determine fission barrier heights to 1 MeV and fragment mass yields for neutron-induced, beta-delayed and spontaneous fission. Answer: validated barrier and yield systematics and their effect on the $A = 110\ \text{to}\ 170$ abundance pattern and on $\mathrm{Th}/\mathrm{U}$ production ratios used to date old stars.
What would settle it
Microscopic fission calculations (time-dependent density functional theory) calibrated on new data for the most neutron-rich accessible actinides at FRIB and RIKEN.