Transfer of Research Grant Funds (from ST/P004008/1 to ST/P003885/1)

Lead Research Organisation: University of York
Department Name: Physics

Abstract

Transfer of Research Grant Funds (from ST/P004008/1 to ST/P003885/1)

Planned Impact

Transfer of Research Grant Funds (from ST/P004008/1 to ST/P003885/1)

Publications

10 25 50
 
Description We provided evidence for the existence of the d* hexaquark using electromagnetic beams. This particle has the potential to transform our understanding of nuclear matter at high densities e.g. neutron star cores.

We provided key data to better understand the excitation spectrum of the nucleon (proton and neutron). Elucidating this spectrum provides new insights into the dynamics at work within the nucleon - testing our understanding of the strong force and constraining poorly understood mechanisms responsible for the mass of the visible universe.

We obtained a paradigm shifting result on the nature of the interaction of hyperons (nucleons containing a strange quark) with nucleons - utilising the novel approach of scattering experiments with short-lived photoproduced hyperon beams. Our current understanding of this fundamental interaction was shown to be incorrect - with impact for hadron physics as well as neutron star structure.
Exploitation Route The d* hexaquark work has motivated studies of their role in neutron star composition. This new area of research is ongoing. Inclusion of the hexaquark in the equation of state for neutron stars gives a mass limit consistent with recent gravitational wave observations.

It has also motivated studies into the possible role of a bosonic hexaquark to dark matter - which led to studies using data from astronomical gamma ray telescopes (e.g. FERMI-LAT). Gaining sensitivity to hexaquark signals in the cosmos has been mentioned in plans for future missions.
Sectors Other

 
Description Dr Mikhail Bashkanov
Amount £23,680 (GBP)
Funding ID ST/W005433/1 
Organisation Science and Technologies Facilities Council (STFC) 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 01/2022 
End 03/2022
 
Description EIC Detector R&D
Amount £242,438 (GBP)
Funding ID ST/W004852/1 
Organisation Science and Technologies Facilities Council (STFC) 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 09/2021 
End 03/2024
 
Description Exploring new states of matter (New Applicant scheme)
Amount £7,076 (GBP)
Funding ID ST/V002570/1 
Organisation Science and Technologies Facilities Council (STFC) 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 03/2020 
End 09/2022
 
Description Infrastructure award
Amount £14,823 (GBP)
Organisation University of York 
Sector Academic/University
Country United Kingdom
Start 03/2021 
End 07/2021
 
Description International Exchanges
Amount £11,320 (GBP)
Funding ID IES\R3\203149 
Organisation The Royal Society 
Sector Charity/Non Profit
Country United Kingdom
Start 03/2021 
End 12/2023
 
Description PhD Student: Jefferson laboratory
Amount £70,000 (GBP)
Organisation University of York 
Sector Academic/University
Country United Kingdom
Start 08/2019 
End 01/2022
 
Description PhD student: Jefferson Laboratory
Amount £70,000 (GBP)
Organisation University of York 
Sector Academic/University
Country United Kingdom
Start 08/2021 
End 01/2025
 
Description Uniting for strong interaction research and new technologies - Horizon 2020 EU
Amount £8,000,000 (GBP)
Funding ID H2020-EU.1.4.1.2. 
Organisation EU-T0 
Sector Public
Country European Union (EU)
Start 01/2021 
End 12/2026
 
Description ECCE collaboration 
Organisation Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Country United States 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution Detector and physics simulation and design
Collaborator Contribution Detector and physics simulation and design
Impact Detector proposal for ECCE
Start Year 2021
 
Description EIC UG 
Organisation Brookhaven National Laboratory
Department RIKEN-BNL Research Center
Country United States 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution Simulations and design of the future EIC collider
Collaborator Contribution New detector simulations, polarised detector development, polarimeter studies
Impact new development of polarised detectors
Start Year 2021
 
Description EIC UG 
Organisation Brookhaven National Laboratory
Country United States 
Sector Public 
PI Contribution Detector and physics proposals for the EIC
Collaborator Contribution Detector and physics proposals for the EIC
Impact Detector proposal and physics/technical notes
Start Year 2021
 
Description The hadron physics of neutron stars 
Organisation INFN Sezione di Catania
Country Italy 
Sector Public 
PI Contribution The discovery of the d* hexaquark has the potential for significant impact in our understanding of neutron stars. An interdisciplinary collaboration between nuclear physicists and astrophysicicists was setup. A number of papers have already been produced and ongoing programme is developing
Collaborator Contribution We identified the possibilities and played key role in defining how the hexaquark could be incorporated into the equation of state for neutrons stars
Impact Two paper outputs resulted from the collaboration. https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/202037749 10.1016/j.physletb.2018.03.052 The topic has led to invited talks at a number of leading conferences.
Start Year 2018
 
Description The hadron physics of neutron stars 
Organisation Imperial College London
Department Department of Physics
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution The discovery of the d* hexaquark has the potential for significant impact in our understanding of neutron stars. An interdisciplinary collaboration between nuclear physicists and astrophysicicists was setup. A number of papers have already been produced and ongoing programme is developing
Collaborator Contribution We identified the possibilities and played key role in defining how the hexaquark could be incorporated into the equation of state for neutrons stars
Impact Two paper outputs resulted from the collaboration. https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/202037749 10.1016/j.physletb.2018.03.052 The topic has led to invited talks at a number of leading conferences.
Start Year 2018
 
Description The hadron physics of neutron stars 
Organisation University of York
Department Department of Physics
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution The discovery of the d* hexaquark has the potential for significant impact in our understanding of neutron stars. An interdisciplinary collaboration between nuclear physicists and astrophysicicists was setup. A number of papers have already been produced and ongoing programme is developing
Collaborator Contribution We identified the possibilities and played key role in defining how the hexaquark could be incorporated into the equation of state for neutrons stars
Impact Two paper outputs resulted from the collaboration. https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/202037749 10.1016/j.physletb.2018.03.052 The topic has led to invited talks at a number of leading conferences.
Start Year 2018
 
Description e4nu 
Organisation Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Country United States 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution Data mining and analysis for electrons for neutrinos
Collaborator Contribution Data mining and analysis for electrons for neutrinos
Impact Papers and technical notes
Start Year 2019
 
Description "Building blocks" podcast on Medical Physics 
Form Of Engagement Activity A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press)
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Schools
Results and Impact Building blocks" podcast on Medical physics (~300 participants)
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2020
 
Description Article in the Daily Mail 
Form Of Engagement Activity A magazine, newsletter or online publication
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Our work speculating on Dark Matter was covered widely in international media
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2020
URL https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-8073771/Known-particle-hold-key-understanding-dark-m...
 
Description Article in the independent 
Form Of Engagement Activity A magazine, newsletter or online publication
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Article in the independent
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2020
URL https://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/dark-matter-source-new-particle-hexaquark-university-york...
 
Description Atomic Nuclei: how many, how big, how old? - IOP Lecture - Feb 2020 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Free evening talk and Binding Blocks exhibition late opening. The answers to this are held in the tiny core of the atom, the nucleus. Join Dr Arnau Huguet from the University of Surrey and the York Binding Blocks team to go on a guided tour of the elements, explore their nuclei and how they behave. The answers to this are held in the tiny core of the atom, the nucleus. Discover how understanding atomic nuclei helps us understand some of the biggest questions in physics.

[ IOP Lecture: Atomic Nuclei: How big, how many, how old? Institute of Physics, London UK 13/02/2020 Exhibition Public Mainly adults 15 A lecture with the exhibtion open before and after. ]
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2020
URL https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/atomic-nuclei-how-many-how-big-how-old-tickets-90323370633#
 
Description Binding Blocks 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Schools
Results and Impact Participated in building block workshop explaining the Nuclear Chart and guiding students in understanding fundamentals of nuclear physics
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2019,2020
 
Description Daily Express article about our Dark Matter research 
Form Of Engagement Activity A magazine, newsletter or online publication
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Daily Express article about our Dark Matter research
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2020
URL https://www.express.co.uk/news/science/1250619/dark-matter-news-science-big-bang-mystery-d-star-hexa...
 
Description Daily Mail article about our Dark matter research 
Form Of Engagement Activity A magazine, newsletter or online publication
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Media (as a channel to the public)
Results and Impact Daily Mail article about our Dark matter research
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2020
URL https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-8073771/Known-particle-hold-key-understanding-dark-m...
 
Description Festival of ideas, astronomy podcast 
Form Of Engagement Activity A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press)
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Schools
Results and Impact ~300 pupils/students podcast on Dark matter
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2020
URL https://yorkfestivalofideas.com/2020-online/calendar/syzygy-live/
 
Description Fox news article "Did German physicists accidentally discover dark matter in 2014?" 
Form Of Engagement Activity A magazine, newsletter or online publication
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact article about our publication "new dark matter candidate"
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2020
URL https://www.foxnews.com/science/did-german-physicists-accidentally-discover-dark-matter-in-2014
 
Description Geant4 Tutorial for African Schools 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Postgraduate students
Results and Impact 80 Post graduate students attended the GEANT4 workshop, aiming at giving the tools to students to study high-level physics and interaction of particles with matter, as well as develop their own ideas using the GEANT4 framework.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2019,2020
 
Description IOP public engagement event, physics master class 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Schools
Results and Impact Nuclear physics public engagement activity
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2020
URL https://events.iop.org/level-nuclear-physics-masterclass
 
Description Interview to IIA 
Form Of Engagement Activity A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Interview about dark matter
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2020
URL https://www.media.inaf.it/2020/03/06/d-star-hexaquark/
 
Description Interview to Newsweek 
Form Of Engagement Activity A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Interview about a potential dark matter discovery
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2020
URL https://www.newsweek.com/dark-matter-candidate-mystery-universe-1490678
 
Description Interview to Space.com 
Form Of Engagement Activity A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Interview about dark matter paper
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2020
URL https://www.space.com/hexaquarks-big-bang-form-universe-dark-matter.html
 
Description Invited talk Baryons 2022 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Other audiences
Results and Impact Invited plenary talk at Baryons 2022 conference
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
URL https://www.google.com/search?channel=fs&client=ubuntu&q=baryons+2022
 
Description Italian Institute of Astrophysics media interview 
Form Of Engagement Activity A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Italian Institute of Astrophysics media interview
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2020
URL https://www.media.inaf.it/2020/03/06/d-star-hexaquark
 
Description KLong collaboration invited talk at Meson2021 conference 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Invited talk at the international conference Meson 2021
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2021
 
Description MOOC lecture "Neutron stars" 
Form Of Engagement Activity A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press)
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Schools
Results and Impact A lecture as a part of Massive Online lecture course organised by the UoY
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
 
Description Medical Physics Workshop 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Postgraduate students
Results and Impact Run a medical physics workshop at University of York going over application of physics in medicine including Imaging (PET, MRI, ultrasounds...) and radiotherapy (x-rays, proton and heavy ion therapy).
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2019
 
Description Multiple publications about our Dark Matter research all over the globe 
Form Of Engagement Activity A magazine, newsletter or online publication
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Over 50 publications in various media all over the globe from UK up to US, Japan, Iran, Thailand, Russia, Germany..... A large but incomplete list of all media publication about this topic can be found on https://iop.altmetric.com/details/74422526/news journal web site. The most downloaded paper in the history of J. Phys G - leading UK Nuclear Physics Journal. Over 30k downloads.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2020
URL https://iop.altmetric.com/details/74422526/news
 
Description Newspaper article "La materia oscura ya está más clara" 
Form Of Engagement Activity A magazine, newsletter or online publication
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Dark matter candidate paper public overview
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2020
URL https://www.diariocordoba.com/noticias/tendencias21/materia-oscura-ya-mas-clara_1388711.html
 
Description Newsweek article 
Form Of Engagement Activity A magazine, newsletter or online publication
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Newsweek article on our research

There were many articles on this story internationally to enter each one on researchfish - but a google on "d* hexaquark dark matter" will show the complete list
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2020
URL https://www.newsweek.com/dark-matter-candidate-mystery-universe-1490678
 
Description Nuclear Master Class 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Schools
Results and Impact More than 500 pupils attended the nuclear master class in which students were introduced to the basics of nuclear physics and application. The online course took place of a duration of few weeks and concluded with a hands on medical physics simulation using GEANT4.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2019,2020
 
Description Nuclear Physics Masterclass - IOP London - Feb 2020 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Schools
Results and Impact This curriculum-linked workshop is centred around a 7m-long nuclear chart built from over 25,000 Lego bricks. Students will gain an introduction to nuclear physics before using the chart to follow nuclear decay chains, explore the concept and applications of binding energy, and research the uses of different isotopes. The workshop will then look at the application of nuclear physics to stars. Students will discover the nuclear reactions happening during stellar explosions in an activity demonstrating half-lives and the random nature of radioactive decay.

The Masterclass is open to all students studying A level Physics (or equivalent). Students must attend with a teacher

Year 12 Nuclear Masterclass - Introduction to nuclear chart, energy and decay questions, hot CNO cycle, scattering.
[IOP Nuclear Masterclass Institute of Physics, London UK 13/02/2020 Masterclass Schools Year 12 50]
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2020
URL https://events.iop.org/level-nuclear-physics-masterclass
 
Description Nuclear Physics Masterclass - York - Summer 2020 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Schools
Results and Impact Nuclear Physics Masterclass: Online

Join the Department of Physics at the University of York and leading experts from around the world for a Nuclear Physics Masterclass. Find out more about cutting-edge research in Nuclear Physics and applications of nuclear technologies.

This four-week programme is suitable for students studying Physics in years 12 and 13 (S5 and S6 in Scotland) and allows for flexible learning in or out of the classroom.

Details
Masterclasses are open to all students studying Physics in years 12 and 13 / S5 and S6, (ages 16-18).
Four week programme with 3-5 hours content per week.
Live webinars with leading experts weekly. Recording available after the event.
Ask questions of experts live during the weekly webinar and throughout the week through a forum.
Complete all activities and receive a certificate of participation.
Work at your own pace
Register as an individual, or teachers can make class bookings

Week 1: Energy and Decay
Discover the nuclear chart of the isotopes with a 3D fly-through and find out more about the building blocks of our Universe.
Follow nuclear decay chains, explore the concept and applications of binding energy, and investigate half-lives.
Optional activity to explore the 3D nuclear isotopes chart in Minecraft.

Week 2: Nuclear Astrophysics
Explore the Hot CNO Cycle: Discover the nuclear reactions happening in stars during stellar explosions, in particular on the surface of neutron stars, in an activity demonstrating half-lives and the random nature of radioactive decay.
Investigate a computer simulation of the liquid drop model of nuclei and apply this to the formation of neutron stars. Learn about the influence of the fundamental forces at the nuclear scale.

Week 3: Fusion Technology
Find out about methods of creating nuclear fusion as a power source - from lasers to tokamaks. Investigate how the most extreme conditions in the Solar System are created in a laboratory setting, and how materials are designed to withstand such temperatures and pressures.
Explore research labs through virtual tours.

Week 4: Medical Physics
Hear from a medical physicist about how nuclear physics shaped her career.
Find out how PET scanners work and discover how cutting-edge research into quantum entanglement is making these more effective.
Use computer modeling to investigate proton-therapy and see if you can optimise cancer treatments.

[Online Nuclear Masterclass N/A UK 22/06/2020 - 31/07/2020 Masterclass Schools KS4/5 840]
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2020
URL https://www.york.ac.uk/physics/public-and-schools/nuclear-masterclass-homepage-summer2020/
 
Description Nuclear Physics masterclass 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Schools
Results and Impact Outcomes from the research (evidence for the d* hexaquark) were part of presentations chosen to enthuse STEM students in the NUclear Physics Masterclasses
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2020
URL https://www.york.ac.uk/physics/public-and-schools/secondary/nuclear-masterclass-online/
 
Description Nuclear physics podcast on Dark matter 
Form Of Engagement Activity A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press)
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Schools
Results and Impact Nuclear Physics, "Building blocks" podcast on Dark Matter (~500 participants
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2020
 
Description Nuffield Research Project 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Schools
Results and Impact 4 students attended the workshop that focused on medical physics research for students. Students were got a hands on experience on simulation for radiotherapy techniques and wrote a report on their findings.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2019,2020
 
Description Organisation of Exotic Hadron Spectroscopy workshop 2019, York. 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Fruitful discussions, a lot of new ideas and links
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2019
URL https://www.iopconferences.org/iop/frontend/reg/thome.csp?pageID=884741&eventID=1401&language=1&CSPC...
 
Description Podcast on role of hexaquarks in Dark Matter 
Form Of Engagement Activity A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press)
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Media interview on the possibilities of the hexaquark as a dark matter candidate
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2020
URL https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fw0Y8UJNkxY
 
Description Science Daily article 
Form Of Engagement Activity A magazine, newsletter or online publication
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Science daily article on our research
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2020
URL https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/03/200303140225.htm
 
Description South African nuclear physics summer school 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Undergraduate students
Results and Impact South African, nuclear physics summer school. Set of nuclear and medical physics lectures and master classes.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2019
URL http://www.unizulu.ac.za/unizulu-hosts-9th-tastes-of-nuclear-physics-conference/
 
Description Strong2020 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Organisation of Strong2020 workshop
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2021
URL https://agenda.infn.it/event/27658/
 
Description The Independent newspaper article about our Dark matter research 
Form Of Engagement Activity A magazine, newsletter or online publication
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact article about our dark matter research
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2020
URL https://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/dark-matter-source-new-particle-hexaquark-university-york...
 
Description UKNPSS Monte Carlo Techniques 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Postgraduate students
Results and Impact Run a workshop on Monte Carlo techniques explaining their importance and usage in research.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2019
URL https://sites.google.com/a/york.ac.uk/uknpss2019
 
Description University of Manchester Seminar 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Postgraduate students
Results and Impact I was invited to make a general seminar at the University of Manchester to introduce our discoveries
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018
 
Description space.com podcast 
Form Of Engagement Activity A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press)
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact interview by space.com on our research
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2020
URL https://www.space.com/hexaquarks-big-bang-form-universe-dark-matter.html