Nuclear structure and nuclear astrophysics at the ISAC-II facility

Lead Research Organisation: University of York
Department Name: Physics

Abstract

The atomic nucleus is a fascinating system, made up of tiny particles called neutrons and protons. The motion of the neutrons and protons are governed by quantum mechanics and they are held together by a subtle interplay between three of the fundamental forces in Nature, which makes the nucleus unlike any other system we know (and at the same time very hard to understand). Although we know that something like 7,000 different nuclei exist, each having a different number of neutrons and protons, Nature has made it very difficult for us to study these, because only around 300 of them are long lived enough to be found here on Earth. That is not to say that the others can't be made, indeed Nature achieves this inside stars and in the spectacular explosive sites like novae and supernovae, but because they are radioactive they decay quickly. Here on Earth we can mimic Nature by producing these nuclei in collisions between a beam of fast moving nuclei which we produce with an accelerator and which we direct at a target where the beam nuclei collide with nuclei in the target. Recently, because of technological advances, we have developed the ability to not only to produce these radioactive nuclei, but to collect them and re-accelerate them before they decay. In this way we can create beams of radioactive nuclei and this is revolutionising nuclear physics by opening up the whole range of those 7,000 or so nuclei to study. Moreover, it also allows us to investigate one of the most exciting applications of nuclear physics, the study of the nuclear reactions which go on in such amazing astropysical objects as novae, x-ray bursters and supernovae. One of the problems with carrying out these studies is that the accelerated beams of radioactive nuclei are very weak. Hence we need to build very efficient instruments which can make the measurements we want. We are planning to build two new instruments which we will install at a new radioactive beam facility called ISAC-II, bas
 
Description We have designed, built and commissioned a world leading research infrastructure, the SHARC array, based at the TRIUMF Laboratory in Canada. This array of charged particle detectors can be operated in conjunction with the TIGRESS gamma ray array and, when used with the radioactive beams available at TRIUMF provides what still remains a unique facility worldwide for nuclear astrophysics experiments.
Exploitation Route The facility has already been used by over forty international scientists from about a dozen institutions to carry out their own research projects.
Sectors Other

 
Description The facility has already been used by over forty international scientists from about a dozen institutions to carry out their own research projects.
First Year Of Impact 2011
 
Description Contemporary Science Conferences 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Type Of Presentation Keynote/Invited Speaker
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Schools
Results and Impact A total of 40 science teachers from the north of England have so far participated in practical sessions focused on the methodology of radioactive ion beam research. The sessions have been specifically focused on the nuclear astrophysics research related to grant EP/D060575/1. The sessions were part of the 2011 Teachers Development Conference and the 2013 Contemporary Science Conference at the National Science Learning Centre, York, UK.

The practical sessions were developed to be directly applicable as part of the secondary school science curriculum. Instructions, worksheets, and tools were developed for the teachers to take home to include in their teaching on the subject.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2011,2013
 
Description Guest Lecturer, University of Aarhus, Denmark 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Type Of Presentation Keynote/Invited Speaker
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Postgraduate students
Results and Impact 10 students have attended lectures on Nuclear Astrophysics (2011) and Nuclear Techniques (2012), specifically focussed on the impact of research carried out under grant EP/D060575/1.

Post-graduate level electronic lecture material
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2011,2012
 
Description The 2011 SHARC Workshop, Caen, France 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Type Of Presentation Workshop Facilitator
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Other academic audiences (collaborators, peers etc.)
Results and Impact 25 collaborators from 5 countries participated in the workshop, facilitated to promote the research programme of grant EP/D060575/1.

International collaboration related to the future physics programme following on from grant EP/D060575/1.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2011