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
Agakishiev G
(2012)
Strangeness enhancement in Cu-Cu and Au-Au collisions at vS(NN)=200 GeV.
in Physical review letters
Abelev B
(2013)
Net-charge fluctuations in Pb-Pb collisions at sqrt[sNN]=2.76 TeV.
in Physical review letters
Abelev B
(2014)
Exclusive J/? photoproduction off protons in ultraperipheral p-Pb collisions at v(s(NN))=5.02 TeV.
in Physical review letters
Abbas E
(2013)
J/? elliptic flow in Pb-Pb collisions at v(s(NN))=2.76 TeV.
in Physical review letters
Marín-Lámbarri DJ
(2014)
Evidence for triangular D3h symmetry in 12C.
in Physical review letters
Abelev B
(2014)
Measurement of prompt D-meson production in p-Pb collisions at v(s(NN))=5.02 TeV.
in Physical review letters
Abelev B
(2012)
J/? suppression at forward rapidity in Pb-Pb collisions at vs(NN) = 2.76 TeV.
in Physical review letters
Abelev B
(2013)
Pseudorapidity density of charged particles in p+Pb collisions at v(s(NN))=5.02 TeV.
in Physical review letters
Abelev B
(2013)
Charge separation relative to the reaction plane in Pb-Pb collisions at sqrt[s(NN)] = 2.76 TeV.
in Physical review letters
Abelev B
(2013)
Directed flow of charged particles at midrapidity relative to the spectator plane in Pb-Pb collisions at v(s(NN))=2.76 TeV.
in Physical review letters
Abelev B
(2013)
Transverse momentum distribution and nuclear modification factor of charged particles in p+Pb collisions at sqrt[s(NN)] = 5.02 TeV.
in Physical review letters
Abelev B
(2012)
Measurement of electrons from semileptonic heavy-flavor hadron decays in p p collisions at s = 7 TeV
in Physical Review D
Abelev B
(2013)
Charged kaon femtoscopic correlations in p p collisions at s = 7 TeV
in Physical Review D
Freer M
(2012)
Consistent analysis of the 2 + excitation of the 12 C Hoyle state populated in proton and a-particle inelastic scattering
in Physical Review C
Smit F
(2012)
No evidence of an 11.16 MeV 2 + state in 12 C
in Physical Review C
Curtis N
(2013)
Investigation of the 4- a linear chain state in 16 O
in Physical Review C
Kokalova T
(2013)
Yield measurements for resonances above the multi- a threshold in 20 Ne
in Physical Review C
Wheldon C
(2014)
States at high excitation in C 12 from the C 12 ( He 3 , He 3 ) 3 a reaction
in Physical Review C
Abelev B
(2014)
Two- and three-pion quantum statistics correlations in Pb-Pb collisions at s N N = 2.76 TeV at the CERN Large Hadron Collider
in Physical Review C
Abelev B
(2013)
Centrality determination of Pb-Pb collisions at s N N = 2.76 TeV with ALICE
in Physical Review C
Wheldon C
(2012)
Absolute partial decay-branch measurements in 13 C
in Physical Review C
John P
(2014)
Shape evolution in the neutron-rich osmium isotopes: Prompt ? -ray spectroscopy of Os 196
in Physical Review C
Thies R
(2016)
Systematic investigation of projectile fragmentation using beams of unstable B and C isotopes
in Physical Review C
Röder M
(2016)
Coulomb dissociation of N 20 , 21
in Physical Review C
Walshe J
(2016)
Experimental study of high-lying states in Mg 28 using the resonant elastic scattering of a particles
in Physical Review C
Smith R
(2016)
Evidence for a 3.8 MeV state in Be 9
in Physical Review C
Randisi G
(2014)
Structure of 13 Be probed via secondary-beam reactions
in Physical Review C
Abelev B
(2013)
Centrality dependence of p , K , and p production in Pb-Pb collisions at s N N = 2.76 TeV
in Physical Review C
Caesar C
(2013)
Beyond the neutron drip line: The unbound oxygen isotopes 25 O and 26 O
in Physical Review C
Curtis N
(2016)
Be 8 + Be 8 and C 12 + a breakup states in O 16 populated via the C 13 ( He 4 , 4 a ) n reaction
in Physical Review C
Freer M
(2012)
Resonances in 11 C observed in the 4 He( 7 Be , a ) 7 Be and 4 He( 7 Be , p ) 10 B reactions
in Physical Review C
Abelev B
(2014)
Multiparticle azimuthal correlations in p -Pb and Pb-Pb collisions at the CERN Large Hadron Collider
in Physical Review C
Abelev B
(2014)
Azimuthal anisotropy of D -meson production in Pb-Pb collisions at s N N = 2.76 TeV
in Physical Review C
Agakishiev G
(2012)
System size and energy dependence of near-side dihadron correlations
in Physical Review C
Kokalova T
(2013)
Precision measurement of the 9.641 MeV, 3 - state in 12 C
in Physical Review C
Soylu A
(2012)
Excitation function measurements of 12 C( 4 He, 8 Be) 8 Be, 12 C( 4 He, 12 C[7.65, 0 + ]) 4 He, and 12 C( 4 He, 12 C[9.64, 3 - ]) 4 He reactions
in Physical Review C
Bailey S
(2019)
Extracting the spectral signature of a clustering in Ti 44 , 48 , 52 using a continuous wavelet transform
in Physical Review C
Altstadt S
(2014)
13,14B(n, ?) via Coulomb Dissociation for Nucleosynthesis towards the r-Process
in Nuclear Data Sheets
Freer Martin
(2012)
NUCLEAR PHYSICS Nucleons come together
in NATURE
Gai M
(2014)
The Rotation-Vibration Structure of 12 C
in Journal of Physics: Conference Series
Walshe J
(2014)
The thick target inverse kinematics technique with a large acceptance silicon detector array
in Journal of Physics: Conference Series
Prepolec L
(2013)
13 C+ 4 He resonant elastic scattering on a thick gas target
in Journal of Physics: Conference Series
Marín-Lámbarri D
(2014)
A newly observed state in 12 C - characterisation and consequences
in Journal of Physics: Conference Series
Tokic V
(2013)
Study of 24 Mg resonances relevant to carbon burning nucleosynthesis
in Journal of Physics: Conference Series
Freer M
(2013)
Challenges to the field of nuclear clustering
in Journal of Physics: Conference Series
Wheldon C
(2012)
Absolute decay width measurements in 16 O
in Journal of Physics: Conference Series
Malcolm J
(2012)
Study of states in 14 C via the 10 Be( 4 He, 4 He) 10 Be reaction
in Journal of Physics: Conference Series
Reifarth R
(2016)
Nuclear astrophysics with radioactive ions at FAIR
in Journal of Physics: Conference Series
Freer M
(2012)
Simplicity from Complexity
in Journal of Physics: Conference Series
| 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 |