Probing the limit of nuclear existence for heavy proton rich nuclei
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Liverpool
Department Name: Physics
Abstract
A fundamental question in nuclear physics is, 'what are the limits on the number of protons and neutrons that can be bound inside an atomic nucleus?' The aim of this research proposal is to answer a vital part of this question by determining more carefully than ever before the precise location of what is known as the proton drip line. The proton and neutron drip lines are the borders between bound and unbound nuclei. Those at the proton drip line have such a large excess of protons that they are highly unstable and try to achieve greater stability through the process of proton emission. We propose to investigate, through complementary theoretical and experimental research programmes, how nuclear behaviour is affected when protons become unbound. Most of the established theoretical models of nuclei have been designed for and fitted to the properties of more stable nuclei. Thus by exploring the exotic nuclei at the farthest shores of the nuclear landscape, the deviation of their behaviour from those predicted by the standard models should be at its greatest and the inadequacies of those models revealed most dramatically. The proposal is for a new collaboration between the nuclear theory group at the University of Surrey and the experimental groups at Daresbury Laboratory and the University of Liverpool. The programme will extend both experimental knowledge and theoretical understanding of drip line nuclei. One of our standard tools for understanding nuclear behaviour is with a mathematical model called the 'mean field approach' in which individual protons and neutrons (collectively known as nucleons) are considered to move in an average energy field generated by all the other nucleons in that nucleus. Around the proton drip line it will be necessary to make use of mathematical techniques beyond this mean field picture to examine how nucleons interact with, and are 'aware of', each other's presence more accurately. Such behaviour, as for example the way two nucleons
Publications

Andel B
(2017)
Detailed a -decay study of Tl 180
in Physical Review C

Andgren K.
(2008)
gamma-ray spectroscopy of At-197
in PHYSICAL REVIEW C

Andgren K.
(2008)
Excited states in the neutron-deficient nuclei Rn-197,Rn-199,Rn-201
in PHYSICAL REVIEW C

Andresen G
(2008)
Production of antihydrogen at reduced magnetic field for anti-atom trapping
in Journal of Physics B: Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics

Andresen G
(2008)
A novel antiproton radial diagnostic based on octupole induced ballistic loss
in Physics of Plasmas

Andreyev A
(2013)
a -decay spectroscopy of the chain 179 Tl g ? 175 Au g ? 171 Ir g ? 167 Re m
in Physical Review C

Andreyev A
(2010)
The new isotope 179 Pb and a-decay properties of 179 Tl m
in Journal of Physics G: Nuclear and Particle Physics

Andreyev A
(2014)
a decay of Au 176
in Physical Review C

Andreyev A. N.
(2009)
alpha decay of At-194
in PHYSICAL REVIEW C

Andreyev A. N.
(2009)
Identification and decay of the 0.48 ms 13/2(+) isomer in Hg-181
in PHYSICAL REVIEW C
Description | STFC Standard Grant |
Amount | £419,256 (GBP) |
Organisation | Science and Technologies Facilities Council (STFC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 12/2009 |
End | 05/2013 |
Description | GREAT |
Organisation | University of Jyvaskyla |
Country | Finland |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Led design and construction of GREAT. Spokesperson for many experiments. |
Collaborator Contribution | Contributions to design & constraction of GREAT. Experimental collaborators. |
Impact | Many publications. |
Description | LISA |
Organisation | Daresbury Laboratory |
Department | Nuclear Physics Support Group |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Intellectual contributions to experimental research programme. |
Collaborator Contribution | Intellectual contribution to experimental research programme. |
Impact | Joint publications. |
Description | LISA |
Organisation | University of the West of Scotland |
Department | School of Physics |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Intellectual contributions to experimental research programme. |
Collaborator Contribution | Intellectual contribution to experimental research programme. |
Impact | Joint publications. |
Description | Schools lectures, Liverpool |
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 | Many pupils have attended the lectures, asking questions afterwards. Impossible to verify. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2007,2008,2009,2010,2011,2012,2013 |