Manchester Nuclear Physics Consolidated Grant Request
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Manchester
Department Name: Physics and Astronomy
Abstract
Nuclear Physics aims to understand the structure and dynamics of nuclear systems. It is the key to understanding the Universe from the first microseconds of its inception when the quark-gluon plasma prevailed, through its history of star and galaxy formation where nuclear reactions play an essential role both in the generation of energy and the creation of elements. The field also has applications that benefit society in diverse areas, from medicine and security to power production, and a strong impact on other fields of science.
Atomic nuclei are a unique quantal laboratory in which microscopic as well as mesoscopic features, driven by effective two-body and three-body forces, can be studied. They are complex many-body systems, but often display unexpected regularities and simple excitation patterns that arise from underlying shell structure, pairing and collective modes of excitation. Such properties are also exhibited by simpler mesoscopic systems (for example, metallic clusters, quantum dots, and atomic condensates) the understanding of which draws heavily on techniques developed and honed in nuclear physics. A fundamental challenge is to understand nuclear properties ab-initio from the interplay of the strong, weak, and electromagnetic forces between individual nucleons. In recent years, enormous progress has been made with such programmes for light nuclei. For heavier nuclei, shell, cluster and other beyond mean field many-body techniques, based on effective interactions, provide essential frameworks for correlating experimental data, yet still lack the refinement to reliably predict nuclear properties as one moves more than a few nucleons from well-studied stable nuclei.
We plan to make measurements of transfer reactions, particle and gamma decays, state lifetimes, ground-state and isomer properties using lasers, and neutron-induced reactions to yield data with which to study the development of nuclear shapes, the evolution of nuclear structure in exotic isotopes and the reactions important for the s and r nucleosynthetic pathways.
We also aim to make connections between the interactions of nucleons and the underlying theory that describes the strong force, Quantum Chromodynamics. Key quantities are the polarisabilities that describe how the structures of nucleons respond to external electric and magnetic fields. We are developing theoretical tools to determine these from experiments on the scattering of photons from hydrogen and other light nuclei. The latter are needed to learn about the the properties of the neutron since it is an unstable particle, and are also interesting for the testing of nuclear forces in few-body systems and for the calculation of muonic atom Lamb shifts.
See the Case for Support for more details about the proposed research.
Atomic nuclei are a unique quantal laboratory in which microscopic as well as mesoscopic features, driven by effective two-body and three-body forces, can be studied. They are complex many-body systems, but often display unexpected regularities and simple excitation patterns that arise from underlying shell structure, pairing and collective modes of excitation. Such properties are also exhibited by simpler mesoscopic systems (for example, metallic clusters, quantum dots, and atomic condensates) the understanding of which draws heavily on techniques developed and honed in nuclear physics. A fundamental challenge is to understand nuclear properties ab-initio from the interplay of the strong, weak, and electromagnetic forces between individual nucleons. In recent years, enormous progress has been made with such programmes for light nuclei. For heavier nuclei, shell, cluster and other beyond mean field many-body techniques, based on effective interactions, provide essential frameworks for correlating experimental data, yet still lack the refinement to reliably predict nuclear properties as one moves more than a few nucleons from well-studied stable nuclei.
We plan to make measurements of transfer reactions, particle and gamma decays, state lifetimes, ground-state and isomer properties using lasers, and neutron-induced reactions to yield data with which to study the development of nuclear shapes, the evolution of nuclear structure in exotic isotopes and the reactions important for the s and r nucleosynthetic pathways.
We also aim to make connections between the interactions of nucleons and the underlying theory that describes the strong force, Quantum Chromodynamics. Key quantities are the polarisabilities that describe how the structures of nucleons respond to external electric and magnetic fields. We are developing theoretical tools to determine these from experiments on the scattering of photons from hydrogen and other light nuclei. The latter are needed to learn about the the properties of the neutron since it is an unstable particle, and are also interesting for the testing of nuclear forces in few-body systems and for the calculation of muonic atom Lamb shifts.
See the Case for Support for more details about the proposed research.
Planned Impact
Trained manpower at postgraduate and postdoctoral levels is in great demand in nuclear, software and instrumentation industries. Young scientists trained within academic nuclear physics are the only source of independent expertise in areas concerning radioactivity and radiation detection. The importance of this expertise can only increase in the future as the UK moves into its new nuclear build programme. The Nuclear Industrial Strategy recognises the key enablers will be an increase in nuclear R&D and development of nuclear skills. Handling and disposal of nuclear wastes, reactor decommissioning and advanced reactor designs will become even more important issues in society. The research undertaken will also directly inform the teaching of undergraduates at Manchester who will benefit from advanced courses involving examples from topical, current research issues.
Since nuclear physics is the fundamental science underpinning the nuclear sector, our expertise developed in research projects such as these allows us to host for two major postgraduate training programmes: the Coordinating Centre for NTEC (Nuclear Technology Education Consortium involving 8 UK universities providing Masters-level courses to the nuclear industry) and the EPSRC Industrial Doctorate Centre for Nuclear Engineering (a consortium of 8 universities). We deliver core and options modules for NTEC, and we are quickly expanding other KT activities (eg IAEA MSc course in nuclear security; leading involvement in a European project to design nuclear safety culture courses across the European nuclear sector; and nuclear codes training courses).
All members of the group, including academics, research fellows, PDRAs and PhD students, undertake public engagement activities. The members of the academic staff have a strong track record in outreach and have built up experience and a good reputation that can be used to good effect; research staff and students are less experienced, yet highly committed, and training is encouraged. Through our participation in the Dalton Nuclear Institute, we collaborate with a number of local and national institutions as well. Dr John Roberts, a Nuclear Fellow partly-funded by our Group's income from education & training courses, is a member of the Nuclear Physics Group and coordinates our activities in this area. For example, we are running an annual course on nuclear energy for KS4 pupils. In collaboration with other UK nuclear physics groups, we organise an annual Teach the Teachers workshop that covers nuclear energy, nuclear medicine and nuclear physics. Dr Roberts lectures to teachers on The Prince's Teaching Institute's Subject Days and these are very well received by the participants. Members of the group are also active in various CERN-based public engagement activities.
Group members have also been able to influence UK and International Policy on nuclear related issues via participation in select committee activities and by representing the UK at a variety of international meetings related to the nuclear industry and skills.
Nuclear data and technological expertise in the group will be used to make measurements relevant to the nuclear industry by improving a variety of important nuclear cross sections. This will feed into the Joint European Fission-Fusion database, used throughout the nuclear industry to improve safety and economics of current and future operations, and of the design of advanced reactors and geological disposal facilities.
Group members are involved in several projects to improve SPECT imaging at the Christie hospital, with potential to commission commercial software. The group has supported medical research using short-lived positron emitters at the Wolfson Medical Imaging Centre, by joint supervision of MPhys and MSc students.
See Pathways to Impact for more details.
Since nuclear physics is the fundamental science underpinning the nuclear sector, our expertise developed in research projects such as these allows us to host for two major postgraduate training programmes: the Coordinating Centre for NTEC (Nuclear Technology Education Consortium involving 8 UK universities providing Masters-level courses to the nuclear industry) and the EPSRC Industrial Doctorate Centre for Nuclear Engineering (a consortium of 8 universities). We deliver core and options modules for NTEC, and we are quickly expanding other KT activities (eg IAEA MSc course in nuclear security; leading involvement in a European project to design nuclear safety culture courses across the European nuclear sector; and nuclear codes training courses).
All members of the group, including academics, research fellows, PDRAs and PhD students, undertake public engagement activities. The members of the academic staff have a strong track record in outreach and have built up experience and a good reputation that can be used to good effect; research staff and students are less experienced, yet highly committed, and training is encouraged. Through our participation in the Dalton Nuclear Institute, we collaborate with a number of local and national institutions as well. Dr John Roberts, a Nuclear Fellow partly-funded by our Group's income from education & training courses, is a member of the Nuclear Physics Group and coordinates our activities in this area. For example, we are running an annual course on nuclear energy for KS4 pupils. In collaboration with other UK nuclear physics groups, we organise an annual Teach the Teachers workshop that covers nuclear energy, nuclear medicine and nuclear physics. Dr Roberts lectures to teachers on The Prince's Teaching Institute's Subject Days and these are very well received by the participants. Members of the group are also active in various CERN-based public engagement activities.
Group members have also been able to influence UK and International Policy on nuclear related issues via participation in select committee activities and by representing the UK at a variety of international meetings related to the nuclear industry and skills.
Nuclear data and technological expertise in the group will be used to make measurements relevant to the nuclear industry by improving a variety of important nuclear cross sections. This will feed into the Joint European Fission-Fusion database, used throughout the nuclear industry to improve safety and economics of current and future operations, and of the design of advanced reactors and geological disposal facilities.
Group members are involved in several projects to improve SPECT imaging at the Christie hospital, with potential to commission commercial software. The group has supported medical research using short-lived positron emitters at the Wolfson Medical Imaging Centre, by joint supervision of MPhys and MSc students.
See Pathways to Impact for more details.
Organisations
- University of Manchester (Lead Research Organisation)
- Western Michigan University (Collaboration)
- Technical University of Munich (Collaboration)
- Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich (LMU Munich) (Collaboration)
- Daresbury Laboratory (Collaboration)
- University of Leuven (Collaboration)
- Argonne National Laboratory (Collaboration)
- University of Jyväskylä (Collaboration)
- European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) (Collaboration)
Publications
Mazzone A
(2020)
Measurement of the 154Gd(n,?) cross section and its astrophysical implications
in Physics Letters B
Amaducci S
(2019)
Measurement of the 235U(n, f) cross section relative to the 6Li(n, t) and 10B(n,$ \alpha$) standards from thermal to 170 keV neutron energy range at n_TOF
in The European Physical Journal A
Tomandl I
(2019)
Measurement of the Be 7 ( n , p ) cross section at thermal energy
in Physical Review C
Gawlik A
(2019)
Measurement of the Ge 70 ( n , ? ) cross section up to 300 keV at the CERN n_TOF facility
in Physical Review C
De Groote R
(2024)
Measurements of binding energies and electromagnetic moments of silver isotopes - A complementary benchmark of density functional theory
in Physics Letters B
Schäfer M
(2021)
Multi-fermion systems with contact theories
in Physics Letters B
Guerrero C
(2020)
Neutron Capture on the s-Process Branching Point ^{171}Tm via Time-of-Flight and Activation.
in Physical review letters
Howard A
(2020)
Neutron-hole strength in N = 81 nuclei
in Physical Review C
Howard A
(2020)
Neutron-hole strength in N = 81 nuclei
Urban W
(2020)
New, low-energy excitations in Mo 107 and Mo 109
in Physical Review C
Xie L
(2019)
Nuclear charge radii of 62-80Zn and their dependence on cross-shell proton excitations
in Physics Letters B
Malbrunot-Ettenauer S
(2022)
Nuclear Charge Radii of the Nickel Isotopes ^{58-68,70}Ni.
in Physical review letters
Kanellakopoulos A
(2020)
Nuclear moments of germanium isotopes near N = 40
in Physical Review C
Vernon AR
(2022)
Nuclear moments of indium isotopes reveal abrupt change at magic number 82.
in Nature
Vernon A
(2021)
Nuclear moments put a new spin on the structure of 131In
Birse M
(2020)
Optical potentials, retarded Green's functions, and nonorthogonality
in Physical Review C
Vernon A
(2020)
Optimising the Collinear Resonance Ionisation Spectroscopy (CRIS) experiment at CERN-ISOLDE
in Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section B: Beam Interactions with Materials and Atoms
Sharp D
(2019)
Pairing properties of the double- ß emitter Cd 116
in Physical Review C
Siciliano M
(2020)
Pairing-quadrupole interplay in the neutron-deficient tin nuclei: First lifetime measurements of low-lying states in 106,108Sn
in Physics Letters B
Barber L
(2020)
Performing the differential decay curve method on ? -ray transitions with unresolved Doppler-shifted components
in Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment
Athanasakis-Kaklamanakis M
(2023)
Pinning down electron correlations in RaF via spectroscopy of excited states
Griesshammer H
(2018)
Polarisabilities from Compton Scattering on 3He
Birse M
(2017)
Potential problems with interpolating fields
in The European Physical Journal A
Mougeot M
(2018)
Precision Mass Measurements of ^{58-63}Cr: Nuclear Collectivity Towards the N=40 Island of Inversion.
in Physical review letters
Koszorús Á
(2019)
Precision measurements of the charge radii of potassium isotopes
in Physical Review C
Udrescu S
(2024)
Precision spectroscopy and laser-cooling scheme of a radium-containing molecule
in Nature Physics
Praena J
(2018)
Preparation and characterization of 33S samples for 33S(n, a )30Si cross-section measurements at the n_TOF facility at CERN
in Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment
Giles M
(2019)
Probing isospin symmetry in the ( Fe 50 , Mn 50 , Cr 50 ) isobaric triplet via electromagnetic transition rates
in Physical Review C
Chen J
(2022)
Probing the quadrupole transition strength of C 15 via deuteron inelastic scattering
in Physical Review C
Dorrer H
(2018)
Production, isolation and characterization of radiochemically pure 163 Ho samples for the ECHo-project
in Radiochimica Acta
Li X
(2022)
Proton Compton Scattering from Linearly Polarized Gamma Rays.
in Physical review letters
Delafosse C
(2018)
Pseudospin Symmetry and Microscopic Origin of Shape Coexistence in the ^{78}Ni Region: A Hint from Lifetime Measurements.
in Physical review letters
Hadynska-Kl?k K
(2018)
Quadrupole collectivity in Ca 42 from low-energy Coulomb excitation with AGATA
in Physical Review C
Yordanov D
(2019)
Quadrupole moments of 29Mg and 33Mg
in Hyperfine Interactions
Kay B
(2022)
Quenching of Single-Particle Strength in A = 15 Nuclei
in Physical Review Letters
Kay B
(2022)
Quenching of Single-Particle Strength in A=15 Nuclei
Lerendegui-Marco J
(2018)
Radiative neutron capture on Pu 242 in the resonance region at the CERN n_TOF-EAR1 facility
in Physical Review C
Day Goodacre T
(2018)
Radium ionization scheme development: The first observed autoionizing states and optical pumping effects in the hot cavity environment
in Spectrochimica Acta Part B: Atomic Spectroscopy
Kvinikhidze A
(2018)
Renormalisation group analysis of electromagnetic couplings in the pionless effective field theory
in The European Physical Journal A
Koszorús Á
(2020)
Resonance ionization schemes for high resolution and high efficiency studies of exotic nuclei at the CRIS experiment
in Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section B: Beam Interactions with Materials and Atoms
Yang L
(2022)
Rotating Majorana zero modes in a disk geometry
in Physical Review B
Yang L
(2021)
Rotating Majorana Zero Modes in a disk geometry
| Description | Manchester Nuclear Physics Consolidated Grant 2020 |
| Amount | £1,362,208 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | ST/V001116/1 |
| Organisation | Science and Technologies Facilities Council (STFC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 09/2021 |
| End | 09/2025 |
| Title | Open Dataset for publication: Half-life determination of 215At and 221Ra with high-purity radioactive ion beams - IS637 |
| Description | This material is provided as a supplementary open data for the publication in preparation "Half-life determination of 215At and 221Ra with high-purity radioactive ion beams" and contains all the source files regarding this publication and determination of 215At half-life. The data were collected in July and November 2018 during IS637 experiment at ISOLDE, CERN. |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2023 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| URL | https://zenodo.org/record/8262523 |
| Title | Open Dataset for publication: Half-life determination of 215At and 221Ra with high-purity radioactive ion beams - IS665 |
| Description | The dataset for publication in preparation: Half-life determination of 215At and 221Ra with high-purity radioactive ion beams Includes the data analysed for results given in the publication from the IS665 experimental campaign at ISOLDE (CERN). |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2023 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| URL | https://zenodo.org/record/8262559 |
| Description | Argonne National Laboratory |
| Organisation | Argonne National Laboratory |
| Department | Physics Division |
| Country | United States |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Intellectual input, performing experiments, data analysis, writing publications |
| Collaborator Contribution | Facility provision and intellectual input |
| Impact | Publications. |
| Description | CRIS Collaboration |
| Organisation | University of Leuven |
| Department | Institute for Nuclear and Radiation Physics |
| Country | Belgium |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | We have designed and constructed the beam line and laser laboratory. We developed new techniques and designed equipment upgrades. We have provided staff and equipment. |
| Collaborator Contribution | They have provided funding for equipment and manpower. |
| Impact | See publication list. |
| Start Year | 2010 |
| Description | HELIOS |
| Organisation | Argonne National Laboratory |
| Department | Physics Division |
| Country | United States |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Gas detector system and electronics, intellectual input |
| Collaborator Contribution | Intellectual input, silicon detector arrays, electronics |
| Impact | Publications |
| Description | HELIOS |
| Organisation | Western Michigan University |
| Department | Department of Physics |
| Country | United States |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Gas detector system and electronics, intellectual input |
| Collaborator Contribution | Intellectual input, silicon detector arrays, electronics |
| Impact | Publications |
| Description | ISOLDE |
| Organisation | European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) |
| Department | ISOLDE Radioactive Ion Beam Facility |
| Country | Switzerland |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | Scientific ideas and planning |
| Collaborator Contribution | Scientific ideas and planning |
| Impact | Continuing scientific collaboration in potential future projects. |
| Start Year | 2007 |
| Description | Jyvaskyla |
| Organisation | University of Jyvaskyla |
| Department | Accelerator Laboratory |
| Country | Finland |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Intellectual input - apparatus. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Facility provision / beam time |
| Impact | Academic outputs |
| Description | STFC Daresbury |
| Organisation | Daresbury Laboratory |
| Department | Nuclear Physics Support Group |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Detector development |
| Collaborator Contribution | Joint grant application, electronics and daq, target manufacture. |
| Impact | Publications. Equipment production. |
| Description | TUM |
| Organisation | Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich (LMU Munich) |
| Department | Faculty of Physics |
| Country | Germany |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Physics ideas, analysis, writing papers. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Beam time, access to experimental facilities. |
| Impact | Research papers |
| Start Year | 2011 |
| Description | TUM |
| Organisation | Technical University of Munich |
| Country | Germany |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Physics ideas, analysis, writing papers. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Beam time, access to experimental facilities. |
| Impact | Research papers |
| Start Year | 2011 |
| Company Name | Artemis Analytical |
| Description | Artemis Analytical provides carbon dating analysis that uses quantum technology with the aim of reducing time waiting for results. |
| Year Established | 2016 |
| Impact | The company has yet to start trading. At the moment we have filed two patents to protect inventions that built on research at CERN during the fellowship. The company is in the process of securing its IP position, conducting market research and structural planning and seeking equity investment. It is hoped to start trading in 2018. |
| Website | https://www.artemis-analytical.com/ |