Nuclear Structure and Reactions: Theory and Experiment
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Surrey
Department Name: Physics
Abstract
Nuclear physics research is undergoing a transformation. For a hundred years, atomic nuclei have been probed by collisions between stable beams and stable targets, with just a small number of radioactive isotopes being available. Now, building on steady progress over the past 20 years, it is at last becoming possible to generate intense beams of a wide range of short-lived isotopes, so-called 'radioactive beams'. This enables us vastly to expand the scope of experimental nuclear research. For example, it is now realistic to plan to study in the laboratory a range of nuclear reactions that take place in exploding stars. Thereby, we will be able to understand how the chemical elements that we find on Earth were formed and distributed through the Universe. At the core of our experimental research is our strong participation at leading European radioactive-beam facilities: FAIR at GSI, Darmstadt, Germany; SPIRAL at GANIL, Caen, France; and ISOLDE at CERN, Geneva, Switzerland. While we are now contributing, or planning to contribute, to substantial technical developments at these facilities, the present grant request is focused on the exploitation of the capabilities that are now becoming available. To achieve our physics objectives, we also need to use other facilities, including stable-isotope accelerators, since these can provide complementary capabilities. Experimental progress is intimately linked with theory, where novel and practical approaches are a hallmark of the Surrey group. A key and unique feature (within the UK) of our group is our blend of theoretical and experimental capability. Our science goals are aligned with current STFC strategy for nuclear physics, as expressed in detail through the Nuclear Physics Advisory Panel. We wish to understand the boundaries of nuclear existence, i.e. the limiting conditions that enable neutrons and protons to bind together to form nuclei. Under such conditions, the nuclear system is in a delicate state and shows unusual phenomena. It is very sensitive to the properties of the nuclear force. For example, weakly bound neutrons can orbit their parent nucleus at remarkably large distances. This is already known, and our group made key contributions to this knowledge. What is unknown is whether, and to what extent, the neutrons and protons can show different collective behaviours. Also unknown, for most elements, is how many neutrons can bind to a given number of protons. It is features such as these that determine how stars explode. So, we need a more sophisticated understanding of the nuclear force, and we need experimental information about nuclei with unusual combinations of neutrons and protons to test our theoretical ideas and models. Therefore, theory and experiment go hand-in-hand as we push forward towards the nuclear limits. An overview of nuclear binding reveals that about one half of predicted nuclei have never been observed, and the vast majority of this unknown territory involves nuclei with an excess of neutrons. The focus of our activity addresses this 'neutron-rich' territory, exploiting the new capabilities with radioactive beams. Our principal motivation is the basic science, and we contribute strongly to the world sum of knowledge and understanding. Nevertheless, there are more-tangible benefits. For example, our radiation-detector advances can be incorporated in medical diagnosis and treatment. In addition, we provide an excellent training environment for our research students and staff, many of whom go on to work in the nuclear power industry, helping to fill the current skills gap. On a more adventurous note, our special interest in nuclear isomers (energy traps) could lead to novel energy applications. Furthermore, we have a keen interest in sharing our specialist knowledge with a wide audience, and we already have an enviable track record with the media.
Organisations
Publications
Agramunt J
(2016)
Characterization of a neutron-beta counting system with beta-delayed neutron emitters
in Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment
Agramunt J
(2014)
New Beta-delayed Neutron Measurements in the Light-mass Fission Group
in Nuclear Data Sheets
Akber A
(2015)
Increased isomeric lifetime of hydrogen-like Os 192 m
in Physical Review C
Akkoyun S
(2012)
AGATA-Advanced GAmma Tracking Array
in Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment
Al-Dahan N
(2012)
Multiple ß - decaying states in 194 Re: Shape evolution in neutron-rich osmium isotopes
in Physical Review C
Al-Khalili J
(2013)
Nature's quantum subways
in Physics World
Al-Khalili Jim
(2013)
Scientific SOS
in NEW SCIENTIST
Al-Sulaiti H
(2012)
Determination of the natural radioactivity levels in north west of Dukhan, Qatar using high-resolution gamma-ray spectrometry.
in Applied radiation and isotopes : including data, instrumentation and methods for use in agriculture, industry and medicine
Al-Sulaiti L
(2012)
Water equivalence of some plastic-water phantom materials for clinical proton beam dosimetry.
in Applied radiation and isotopes : including data, instrumentation and methods for use in agriculture, industry and medicine
Alexander T
(2015)
Isomeric Ratios in $^{206}$Hg
in Acta Physica Polonica B
Algora A
(2014)
Total Absorption Study of Beta Decays Relevant for Nuclear Applications and Nuclear Structure
in Nuclear Data Sheets
Algora A
(2012)
Decay heat studies for nuclear energy
in Hyperfine Interactions
Alharbi T
(2012)
Gamma-ray fast-timing coincidence measurements from the 18O+18O fusion-evaporation reaction using a mixed LaBr3-HPGe array.
in Applied radiation and isotopes : including data, instrumentation and methods for use in agriculture, industry and medicine
Alharbi T
(2013)
Electromagnetic transition rates in the N = 80 nucleus 58 138 Ce
in Physical Review C
Alharbi T
(2015)
Lifetime of the yrast I p = 5 - state and E 1 hindrance in the transitional nucleus Ce 58 136
in Physical Review C
Altstadt S
(2014)
13,14B(n, ?) via Coulomb Dissociation for Nucleosynthesis towards the r-Process
in Nuclear Data Sheets
Anagnostatou V
(2012)
Electromagnetic transition rates in 100,101Pd using the Recoil Doppler Shift Technique.
in Applied radiation and isotopes : including data, instrumentation and methods for use in agriculture, industry and medicine
Arellano H
(2016)
Di-nucleon structures in homogeneous nuclear matter based on two- and three-nucleon interactions
in The European Physical Journal A
Assié M
(2021)
The MUGAST-AGATA-VAMOS campaign : set-up and performance
Assié M
(2021)
The MUGAST-AGATA-VAMOS campaign: Set-up and performances
in Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment
Atar L
(2018)
Quasifree (p, 2p) Reactions on Oxygen Isotopes: Observation of Isospin Independence of the Reduced Single-Particle Strength.
in Physical review letters
Bailey G
(2017)
Nonlocal nucleon-nucleus interactions in ( d , p ) reactions: Role of the deuteron D state
in Physical Review C
Bailey GW
(2016)
Sensitivity of (d, p) Reactions to High n-p Momenta and the Consequences for Nuclear Spectroscopy Studies.
in Physical review letters
Baldwin T
(2012)
First excited 1 2 + state in 9 B
in Physical Review C
Banu A
(2012)
One-proton breakup of 24 Si and the 23 Al( p , ? ) 24 Si reaction in type I x-ray bursts
in Physical Review C
Barbieri C
(2012)
Accuracy of the Faddeev random phase approximation for light atoms
in Physical Review A
Barbieri C
(2014)
Many-body Propagator Theory with Three-Body Interactions: a Path to Exotic Open Shell Isotopes
in Journal of Physics: Conference Series
Bell SJ
(2012)
An investigation of HPGe gamma efficiency calibration software (ANGLE V.3) for applications in nuclear decommissioning.
in Applied radiation and isotopes : including data, instrumentation and methods for use in agriculture, industry and medicine
Benstead J
(2014)
Calculations of Compound Nucleus Spin-parity Distributions Populated via the (p,t) Reaction in Support of Surrogate Reaction Measurements
in Nuclear Data Sheets
Benzoni G
(2012)
First measurement of beta decay half-lives in neutron-rich Tl and Bi isotopes
in Physics Letters B
Berry T
(2019)
Investigation of the ?n = 0 selection rule in Gamow-Teller transitions: The ß-decay of 207Hg
in Physics Letters B
Bowry M
(2013)
Population of high-spin isomeric states following fragmentation of 238 U
in Physical Review C
Britton R
(2013)
Monte-Carlo based background reduction and shielding optimisation for a large hyper-pure germanium detector
in Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry
Britton R
(2014)
Monte-Carlo optimisation of a Compton suppression system for use with a broad-energy HPGe detector
in Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment
Britton R
(2015)
Coincidence corrections for a multi-detector gamma spectrometer
in Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment
Britton R
(2012)
Preliminary simulations of NaI(Tl) detectors, and coincidence analysis using event stamping
in Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry
Britton R
(2013)
Improving the effectiveness of a low-energy Compton suppression system
in Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment
Britton R
(2012)
Determining the efficiency of a broad-energy HPGe detector using Monte Carlo simulations
in Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry
Brown S
(2012)
Low-lying neutron f p -shell intruder states in 27 Ne
in Physical Review C
Browne F
(2015)
Gamma-ray Spectroscopy in the Vicinity of $^{108}$Zr
in Acta Physica Polonica B
Browne F
(2023)
Interpretation of metastable states in the $$N>70$$ Zr region
in The European Physical Journal A
Browne F
(2017)
K selection in the decay of the ( ? 5 2 [ 532 ] ? 3 2 [ 411 ] ) 4 - isomeric state in Zr 102
in Physical Review C
Browne F
(2015)
Lifetime measurements of the first 2 + states in 104,106Zr: Evolution of ground-state deformations
in Physics Letters B
Brunet M
(2020)
208 Po populated through EC/ß + decay
in Journal of Physics: Conference Series
Brunet M
(2021)
Competition between allowed and first-forbidden ß decays of At 208 and expansion of the Po 208 level scheme
in Physical Review C
Brunet M.
(2020)
208Po populated through EC/ß+decay
in Journal of Physics: Conference Series
Bunce M
(2013)
High-spin study of the shell model nucleus 88 Y 49
in Physical Review C
Butler P
(2016)
TSR: A storage and cooling ring for HIE-ISOLDE
in Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section B: Beam Interactions with Materials and Atoms
Caballero-Folch R
(2017)
ß -decay half-lives and ß -delayed neutron emission probabilities for several isotopes of Au, Hg, Tl, Pb, and Bi, beyond N = 126
in Physical Review C
Description | We have advanced the following areas: understanding the limits of the nuclear landscape, especially the neutron-rich limits; understanding and exploiting the reactions needed to reach the limits; studying and understanding novel structures observed on approaching the limits; engaging fully with the international community of nuclear physicists; disseminating results through leading journals and conferences; providing excellent training. |
Exploitation Route | The main beneficiaries of this work will be the national and international nuclear physics communities. In addition, the expected results on shell structure and isomeric states will also be of significant interest to the nuclear-astrophysics and isomer-application communities. We have an active involvement and information exchange with both these nuclear structure 'user' communities. The isomer work also links closely to the atomic physics community, in particular through the study of highly charged ions stored in rings and traps. Our theoretical methods will be of interest to the condensed-matter community, especially in relation to pairing condensates. The work on detector development has wide potential applications for medical diagnosis and treatment. The research will also provide manpower trained to a high level (PhDs and PDRAs with a deep understanding of radiation physics and sensor technologies) who may subsequently be employed in many different areas, such as national security, the nuclear power industries, environmental monitoring and control, and medical physics. |
Sectors | Education Energy Environment Healthcare Security and Diplomacy |
Description | No specific non-academic impact has yet become material. |