Birmingham Nuclear Physics Consolidated Grant
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Birmingham
Department Name: School of Physics and Astronomy
Abstract
The project is an exploration of the nature of strongly interacting matter. The research will probe the nature of matter at extreme temperature and density where the nucleons inside a nucleus loose their individual identity and dissolve into their constituents of quarks and gluons - the state of matter which it is believed existed an instant after the Big Bang. Using the ALICE experiment at CERN (in which the Birmingham group have played a leading role building the trigger electronics), and collisions between Lead nuclei, the nature of this state of strongly interacting matter will be characterised in detail for the first time. The study of this exotic state of matter, known as a quark-gluon plasma, will help physicists understand more about the nature of the strong force and the evolution of the very early Universe. Nucleons in nuclei are bound via the strong interaction. On the nuclear scale, the interaction is complex and has yet to be fully characterised. Nevertheless, despite the complexity rather simple patterns emerge, such as shell structure and magic numbers or geometric arrangements of nucleons as clusters within nuclei. Due to the very high stability of the alpha-particle it is most often alpha-clusters that precipitate within the nucleus. The role of clusterisation in nuclei is central to understanding the structure of light-nuclei. For example, the famous Hoyle-state in 12C, through which carbon is synthesised in stars, has a structure which is composed of three alpha-particle. The characterisation of such systems forms a key element of the programme. As one adds more and more neutrons to a nucleus the limit of stability is reached where the last neutron no-longer 'sticks' to the nucleus, a point called the neutron drip-line. Studying nuclei close to this limit provides a unique test of our understanding of the nature of the strong interaction. One rather interesting possibility is that nuclei at the drip-line will have a rather exotic structure and behave as clusters embedded in a sea of neutrons. Part of the current programme will study how clusterisation changes as the drip-line approaches. One of the most precise tests of the structure of nuclei comes from an indirect technique. The energy levels of the electrons in an atom are largely determined by the properties of the nucleus; its overall charge, the nuclear shape and radius, the charge distribution and the magnetic moment of the nucleus. Hence, rather fundamental properties of a nucleus may be determined through an interrogation of the electronic energy levels using laser techniques. The Birmingham group has nearly 20 years accumulated experience in using laser-spectroscopy techniques to determine nuclear properties with high precision. The current work will focus on the cerium isotopes which lie at the edge of a region of shape transition due to the weakening of the Z=64 proton sub shell. To measure these isotopes new transitions using a metastable state populated by optical pumping will be needed as well as a more efficient light collection region.
Publications
Freer M
(2014)
The Euroschool on Exotic Beams, Vol. IV
ALICE Collaboration
(2013)
Energy dependence of the transverse momentum distributions of charged particles in pp collisions measured by ALICE.
in The European physical journal. C, Particles and fields
ALICE Collaboration
(2014)
Measurement of quarkonium production at forward rapidity in [Formula: see text] collisions at [Formula: see text]TeV.
in The European physical journal. C, Particles and fields
ALICE Collaboration
(2013)
Charmonium and e+e- pair photoproduction at mid-rapidity in ultra-peripheral Pb-Pb collisions at [Formula: see text].
in The European physical journal. C, Particles and fields
ALICE Collaboration
(2013)
Measurement of inelastic, single- and double-diffraction cross sections in proton-proton collisions at the LHC with ALICE.
in The European physical journal. C, Particles and fields
Abelev B
(2014)
Event-by-event mean $$\varvec{p}_{\mathbf {T}}$$ p T fluctuations in pp and Pb-Pb collisions at the LHC
in The European Physical Journal C
Abelev B
(2012)
Transverse sphericity of primary charged particles in minimum bias proton-proton collisions at $\mathbf{\sqrt{s}=0.9},~\mathbf{2.76}~\mbox{and}~\mathbf{7}~\mbox{TeV}$
in The European Physical Journal C
Abelev B
(2012)
Production of K*(892)0 and ?(1020) in pp collisions at $\sqrt{s}=7\ \mathrm{TeV}$
in The European Physical Journal C
Abelev B
(2014)
Transverse momentum dependence of inclusive primary charged-particle production in p-Pb collisions at $$\sqrt{s_\mathrm{ {NN}}}=5.02~\text {TeV}$$ s NN = 5.02 TeV
in The European Physical Journal C
Abbas E
(2013)
Mid-rapidity anti-baryon to baryon ratios in pp collisions at $\sqrt{s} = 0.9,\ 2.76\mbox{ and }7\mbox{ TeV}$ measured by ALICE
in The European Physical Journal C
Abelev B
(2014)
Neutral pion production at midrapidity in pp and Pb-Pb collisions at $$\sqrt{s_{ {\mathrm {NN}}}}= 2.76\,{\mathrm {TeV}}$$ s NN = 2.76 TeV
in The European Physical Journal C
Bailey S
(2021)
The identification of $${ {\varvec{\alpha }}}$$-clustered doorway states in $$^{44,48,52}$$Ti using machine learning
in The European Physical Journal A
Freer M
(2014)
The Hoyle state in 12 C
in Progress in Particle and Nuclear Physics
FREER M
(2014)
The structure of 12C
in Pramana
Abelev B
(2012)
J / ? production as a function of charged particle multiplicity in pp collisions at s = 7 TeV
in Physics Letters B
Abelev B
(2014)
Production of charged pions, kaons and protons at large transverse momenta in pp and Pb-Pb collisions at s NN = 2.76 TeV
in Physics Letters B
Abelev B
(2013)
Anisotropic flow of charged hadrons, pions and (anti-)protons measured at high transverse momentum in Pb-Pb collisions at s NN = 2.76 TeV
in Physics Letters B
Abelev B
(2012)
D s + meson production at central rapidity in proton-proton collisions at s = 7 TeV
in Physics Letters B
Abelev B
(2012)
Neutral pion and ? meson production in proton-proton collisions at s = 0.9 TeV and s = 7 TeV
in Physics Letters B
Abelev B
(2012)
Multi-strange baryon production in pp collisions at s = 7 TeV with ALICE
in Physics Letters B
Abelev B
(2013)
Coherent J / ? photoproduction in ultra-peripheral Pb-Pb collisions at s NN = 2.76 TeV
in Physics Letters B
Abelev B
(2012)
Light vector meson production in pp collisions at s = 7 TeV
in Physics Letters B
Abelev B
(2013)
Charge correlations using the balance function in Pb-Pb collisions at s N N = 2.76 TeV
in Physics Letters B
Abelev B
(2014)
Beauty production in pp collisions at s = 2.76 TeV measured via semi-electronic decays
in Physics Letters B
Abelev B
(2013)
Long-range angular correlations on the near and away side in p-Pb collisions at s NN = 5.02 TeV
in Physics Letters B
Abelev B
(2012)
Heavy flavour decay muon production at forward rapidity in proton-proton collisions at s = 7 TeV
in Physics Letters B
Abelev B
(2013)
Centrality dependence of charged particle production at large transverse momentum in Pb-Pb collisions at s NN = 2.76 TeV
in Physics Letters B
Abbas E
(2013)
Centrality dependence of the pseudorapidity density distribution for charged particles in Pb-Pb collisions at s NN = 2.76 TeV
in Physics Letters B
Aamodt K
(2012)
Harmonic decomposition of two particle angular correlations in Pb-Pb collisions at s NN = 2.76 TeV
in Physics Letters B
Abelev B
(2014)
Centrality, rapidity and transverse momentum dependence of J / ? suppression in Pb-Pb collisions at s NN = 2.76 TeV
in Physics Letters B
Abelev B
(2014)
Freeze-out radii extracted from three-pion cumulants in pp, p-Pb and Pb-Pb collisions at the LHC
in Physics Letters B
Abelev B
(2014)
Multiplicity dependence of pion, kaon, proton and lambda production in p-Pb collisions at s NN = 5.02 TeV
in Physics Letters B
Abelev B
(2013)
Multiplicity dependence of the average transverse momentum in pp, p-Pb, and Pb-Pb collisions at the LHC
in Physics Letters B
Abelev B
(2012)
K s 0 K s 0 correlations in pp collisions at s = 7 TeV from the LHC ALICE experiment
in Physics Letters B
Abelev B
(2013)
Measurement of electrons from beauty hadron decays in pp collisions at s = 7 TeV
in Physics Letters B
Freer M
(2017)
Elastic scattering of 8 He + 4 He and two-neutron transfer and the influence of resonances in 12 Be
in Physics Letters B
Abelev B
(2013)
Measurement of the inclusive differential jet cross section in pp collisions at s = 2.76 TeV
in Physics Letters B
Abelev B
(2014)
Suppression of ? ( 1 S ) at forward rapidity in Pb-Pb collisions at s NN = 2.76 TeV
in Physics Letters B
Abelev B
(2014)
Multi-strange baryon production at mid-rapidity in Pb-Pb collisions at s NN = 2.76 TeV
in Physics Letters B
Abelev B
(2013)
Long-range angular correlations of p, K and p in p-Pb collisions at s NN = 5.02 TeV
in Physics Letters B
Abelev B
(2012)
Measurement of the cross section for electromagnetic dissociation with neutron emission in Pb-Pb collisions at sqrt[s(NN)] = 2.76 TeV.
in Physical review letters
Agakishiev G
(2012)
Identified hadron compositions in p+p and Au+Au collisions at high transverse momenta at vS(NN)=200 GeV.
in Physical review letters
Abelev B
(2012)
Production of muons from heavy flavor decays at forward rapidity in pp and Pb-Pb collisions at sqrt[s(NN)]=2.76 TeV.
in Physical review letters
Abelev B
(2013)
K(S)0 and ? production in Pb-Pb collisions at v(s(NN))=2.76 TeV.
in Physical review letters
Abelev B
(2012)
J / ? Polarization in p p Collisions at s = 7 TeV
in Physical Review Letters
Abelev B
(2012)
Measurement of the cross section for electromagnetic dissociation with neutron emission in Pb-Pb collisions at sqrt[s(NN)] = 2.76 TeV.
in Physical review letters
Aamodt K
(2012)
Particle-yield modification in jetlike azimuthal dihadron correlations in Pb-Pb collisions at vs(NN)=2.76 TeV.
in Physical review letters
Abelev B
(2013)
D meson elliptic flow in noncentral Pb-Pb collisions at sqrt[sNN]=2.76 Tev.
in Physical review letters
Abelev B
(2012)
Pion, kaon, and proton production in central Pb-Pb collisions at sqrt[s(NN)] = 2.76 TeV.
in Physical review letters
| Description | 1. In high energy collisions, normal nuclear matter melts to form a plasma of quarks and gluons, creating in the laboratory a "universe" in microcosm. At the LHC, this micro "universe" is larger, hotter and longer-lived than previous observed at lower energies. 2. In the early universe, strongly interacting matter behaved like a strongly-coupled liquid. Although approximately 50 times more dense than normal nuclear matter, the quark-gluon plasma is the most perfect example of a low viscosity liquid ever observed. 3. High momentum hadrons provide a connection to the early stages of heavy-ion collisions because they originate from quarks or gluons that have been scattered at large angles transverse to the beam. In the most violent collisions, high momentum hadrons have been found to be strongly suppressed giving insight into the energy density achieved and the nature of particle interactions in the quark-gluon plasma. 4. Identification of the dynamical symmetries of the nucleus carbon-12. 5. Determination of the excitation energy spectrum of the excited states of carbon-12 for the first time. 6. Spectreocopic measurements of a wide range of light nuclei. |
| Exploitation Route | The work here is of interest to other scientists in the field, and in particular nuclear theory |
| Sectors | Other |
| Description | ALICE |
| Organisation | European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) |
| Department | ALICE Collaboration |
| Country | Switzerland |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | Support (maintenance and operation) of the Central Trigger Processor. Data Analysis. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Access to an accelerator facility - the Large Hadron Collider. Provision of office space and central computing facility and network access. Access to shared data. |
| Impact | Outputs are primarily through publications, listed in the relevant section of the form, which are the outcomes of collaborative research. |
| Description | Catania |
| Organisation | University of Catania |
| Department | Department of Physics and Astronomy |
| Country | Italy |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Research collaboration on topics of common interest in nuclear structure - experimental techniques and experience |
| Collaborator Contribution | Research collaboration on topics of common interest in nuclear structure - equipment |
| Impact | Experimental measurements |
| Start Year | 2014 |
| Description | RBI |
| Organisation | Ruder Boskovic Institute |
| Country | Croatia |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | Joint experimental programme - experimentaql experience and scientific insight |
| Collaborator Contribution | Research collaboration on topics of common interest in nuclear structure - experimental equipment/personel |
| Impact | Publications |
| Start Year | 2010 |
| Description | Multiple outreach activitives and public lectures to Schools, general public, teachers, and school children |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Professor Evans is involved in 20 to 25 outreach activities a year, mainly public lectures but also workshops, masterclasses, and summer schools. All activities are physics based and most are related to the ALICE experiment in some way. The purpose of the activites are to inspire and encourage young people to take up physics (or other STEM subjects) at university. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015,2016,2017 |
| URL | http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/physics/outreach/index.aspx |
| Description | Outreach Activities 2015 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Numerous outreach activities - including talks and quizes |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
| Description | Physics Summer School |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Type Of Presentation | Workshop Facilitator |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | 2 Day residential physics summer school - co-organiser Encouraging A-level students to think about taking physics at degree level |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2009,2010,2011,2012,2013 |
| Description | Policy Commission |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | co-chaired (with Lord Hunt) a review of "The future of nuclear energy in the UK". Published a report July 2012. Lots of media exposure invitations to present conclusions of report. Influence on Govmt policy on funding of nuclear research and education. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2011,2012 |
| Description | Quiz for Y9 Students |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Type Of Presentation | Workshop Facilitator |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Physics based quiz for year 9 students from across the region for last 5 years. ..... attended by >250 students per year Student engagement |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2009,2010,2011,2012,2013 |
| Description | Science Festival 2014 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | 1. Debate on Small modular reactors, with 4 panel members as part of Science Festival Programme. 2. Discussion on climate change for schools. A lot of positive feedback. Voting using clickers showed debate changed peoples minds on nuclear, in particular small modular reactors |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014 |
| Description | Talks |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | A variety of talks (>10) to Schools on nuclear science. Total audience of several thousand students. Raising interest and awareness. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2009,2010,2011,2012,2013 |