Nuclear physics of the astrophysical rapid neutron-capture process

One of the most fundamental questions for human beings is 'where are we from'. One answer that has been unveiled by astronomers is the stars. The main elements of the building blocks of life, including carbon, oxygen, nitrogen and sulfur, were produced in the cores of stars. However, nothing heavier than iron-56, such as gold, platinum, and uranium, can be formed via fusion inside a star. Limited by nuclear experimental techniques and astronomical observations, where all the heavier nuclei came from is still an open question. In this paper, the nuclear physics observables (e.g. nuclear masses, half-lives, neutron-capture cross sections, and fission) for the rapid neutron-capture process, one of the major processes responsible for the formation of heavy elements, will be discussed. A brief review on the progress of related nuclear physics experiment and theory will be presented. (authors)