Sensitivity of the r-process to individual beta decay rates

Beta decay rates have long been known to be crucial pieces of nuclear data for calculations of r-process nucleosynthesis. In light of experimental advances that have pushed measurement capabilities closer to the classic r-process path, we revisit the role of individual beta decay rates in a range of potential main r-process scenarios. We consider hot r-processes characterized by $(n,\gamma)$-$(\gamma,n)$ equilibrium and steady beta flow, freezeout from equilibrium, ana cold r-processes where $(n,\gamma)$-$(\gamma,n)$ equilibrium is established briefly if at all. We point out the nuclei in each of these scenarios whose beta decay rates have the greatest impact on the overall r-process abundance pattern and describe the mechanisms by which this influence occurs.