$\beta$-decay studies of Co isotopes using total absorption spectroscopy

Approximately half of the elements heavier than iron are thought to be produced in the r process. Recent insights into the astrophysical site of this critical process highlight the need for experimental data on short-lived neutron-rich nuclei. R-process nucleosynthesis sensitivity studies show that the final abundance distributions of r-process nuclei are greatly impacted by $\beta$-decay properties, such as half-lives and $\beta$-delayed neutron-emission probabilities. To inform the global models used to calculate these properties in calculations, we have measured the $\beta$-decay strengths for several neutron-rich Co isotopes using the technique of total absorption spectroscopy with the Summing NaI (SuN) detector at the NSCL. The resultant $\beta$-decay intensities and deduced Gamow-Teller strengths are compared to QRPA calculations. Results for $^{66,68}$Co decay will be presented along with a look at the systematics for this region.