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
Swan T
(2012)
Hindered decays from a non-yrast four-quasiparticle isomer in 164 Er
in Physical Review C
Sumikama T
(2021)
Observation of new neutron-rich isotopes in the vicinity of Zr 110
in Physical Review C
Stroberg S
(2015)
Neutron single-particle strength in silicon isotopes: Constraining the driving forces of shell evolution
in Physical Review C
Straumal B
(2015)
Amorphization of Nd-Fe-B alloy under the action of high-pressure torsion
in Materials Letters
Stone N
(2013)
Quasi-particle and collective magnetism: Rotation, pairing and blocking in high-K isomers
in Physics Letters B
Stevenson P
(2015)
Shapes and Dynamics from the Time-Dependent Mean Field
Stevenson P
(2016)
Skyrme tensor force in heavy ion collisions
in Physical Review C
Stevenson P
(2015)
The Skyrme Tensor Force in Heavy Ion Collisions
Stevenson P
(2014)
Isoscalar and Isovector Giant Monopole Resonances from a Continuum Hartree-Fock Method
in EPJ Web of Conferences
Stevenson P
(2015)
Resonances and Reactions from Mean-Field Dynamics
Stevenson P
(2016)
Resonances and reactions from mean-field dynamics
in EPJ Web of Conferences
Stanoiu M
(2012)
Spectroscopy of 26 F
in Physical Review C
Somà V
(2014)
Three-nucleon forces in exotic open-shell isotopes
in EPJ Web of Conferences
Somà V
(2014)
Nucleon mean-free path in the medium
in EPJ Web of Conferences
Somà V
(2013)
Ab initio Gorkov-Green's function calculations of open-shell nuclei
in Physical Review C
Somà V
(2014)
Chiral two- and three-nucleon forces along medium-mass isotope chains
in Physical Review C
Smalley D
(2014)
Two-neutron transfer reaction mechanisms in 12 C( 6 He, 4 He) 14 C using a realistic three-body 6 He model
in Physical Review C
Simpson E
(2012)
Microscopic two-nucleon overlaps and knockout reactions from 12 C
in Physical Review C
Simpson E
(2012)
Projectile deformation effects on single-nucleon removal reactions
in Physical Review C
Shubina D
(2013)
Schottky mass measurements of heavy neutron-rich nuclides in the element range 70 = Z = 79 at the GSI Experimental Storage Ring
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. |