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
Regan P
(2015)
Precision measurement of sub-nanosecond lifetimes of excited nuclear states using fast-timing coincidences with LaBr3(Ce) detectors
in Radiation Physics and Chemistry
Reed M
(2012)
Long-lived isomers in neutron-rich Z = 72 -76 nuclides
in Physical Review C
Recchia F
(2016)
Neutron single-particle strengths at N = 40 , 42: Neutron knockout from Ni 68 , 70 ground and isomeric states
in Physical Review C
Randisi G
(2014)
Structure of 13 Be probed via secondary-beam reactions
in Physical Review C
Rajabali M
(2013)
A dedicated decay-spectroscopy station for the collinear resonance ionization experiment at ISOLDE
in Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment
Rahaman A
(2014)
Study of Ground State Wave-function of the Neutron-rich 29,30 Na Isotopes through Coulomb Breakup
in EPJ Web of Conferences
Pérez-Cerdán A
(2013)
Deformation of Sr and Rb isotopes close to the N = Z line via ß -decay studies using the total absorption technique
in Physical Review C
Podolyák Z
(2014)
Studies of exotic nuclei with advanced radiation detectors
in Radiation Physics and Chemistry
Peters W
(2012)
Reply to "Comment on 'Neutron knockout of 12 Be populating neutron-unbound states in 11 Be ' "
in Physical Review C
Pardi CI
(2014)
Extension of the continuum time-dependent Hartree-Fock method to proton states.
in Physical review. E, Statistical, nonlinear, and soft matter physics
Pardi C
(2013)
Continuum time-dependent Hartree-Fock method for giant resonances in spherical nuclei
in Physical Review C
Pang D
(2013)
Rapid convergence of the Weinberg expansion of the deuteron stripping amplitude
in Physical Review C
Pain SD
(2015)
Constraint of the astrophysical ^{26g}Al(p,?)^{27}Si destruction rate at stellar temperatures.
in Physical review letters
Orrigo SE
(2014)
Observation of the ß-delayed ?-proton decay of (56)Zn and its impact on the Gamow-Teller strength evaluation.
in Physical review letters
Orrigo S
(2014)
Beta Decay of the Exotic $T_z = -2$, $^{56}$Zn Nucleus and Half-life of Various Proton-rich $T_z = -1$ Nuclei
in Acta Physica Polonica B
Orrigo S
(2016)
Observation of the 2 + isomer in Co 52
in Physical Review C
Orrigo S
(2014)
Beta decay of exotic T Z = -1, -2 nuclei: the interesting case of 56 Zn
in EPJ Web of Conferences
Nociforo C
(2012)
Measurements of a-decay half-lives at GSI
in Physica Scripta
Nita C
(2014)
Fast-timing lifetime measurements of excited states in Cu 67
in Physical Review C
Nishimura N
(2016)
Impact of the first-forbidden ß decay on the production of A~ 195 r-process peak
in Physics Letters B
Nara Singh B
(2012)
Influence of the n p interaction on the ß decay of 94 Pd
in Physical Review C
Nakhostin M
(2013)
Application of pulse-shape discrimination to coplanar CdZnTe detectors
in Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment
Nakhostin M
(2014)
Pulse-Shape Discrimination of Alpha Particles of Different Specific Energy-Loss With Parallel-Plate Avalanche Counters
in IEEE Transactions on Nuclear Science
Nakhostin M
(2013)
Use of commercial operational amplifiers in a low cost multi-channel preamplifier system
in Radiation Physics and Chemistry
Nakhostin M
(2013)
A new digital method for high precision neutron-gamma discrimination with liquid scintillation detectors
in Journal of Instrumentation
Nakhostin M
(2013)
A thermal neutron beam monitor based on avalanche counter
in Radiation Physics and Chemistry
Nakhostin M
(2013)
Charged particle response of transmission diamond detectors
in Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment
Nakamura T
(2014)
Deformation-driven p-wave halos at the drip line: 31Ne.
in Physical review letters
Najem M
(2015)
Neutron production from flattening filter free high energy medical linac: A Monte Carlo study
in Radiation Physics and Chemistry
Mutschler A
(2016)
Spectroscopy of P 35 using the one-proton knockout reaction
in Physical Review C
Muto S
(2014)
Magnetic properties of Hf 177 and Hf 180 in the strong-coupling deformed model
in Physical Review C
Morrison L
(2023)
Quadrupole and octupole collectivity in the semi-magic nucleus 80 206 Hg126
in Physics Letters B
Morrison L
(2020)
Quadrupole deformation of Xe 130 measured in a Coulomb-excitation experiment
in Physical Review C
Morrison L
(2020)
Dealing with contaminants in Coulomb excitation of radioactive beams
in Journal of Physics: Conference Series
Morales AI
(2014)
Half-life systematics across the N=126 shell closure: role of first-forbidden transitions in the ß decay of heavy neutron-rich nuclei.
in Physical review letters
Morales A
(2013)
ß -delayed ? -ray spectroscopy of 203 , 204 Au and 200 - 202 Pt
in Physical Review C
Morales A
(2017)
Simultaneous investigation of the T = 1 ( J p = 0 + ) and T = 0 ( J p = 9 + ) ß decays in Br 70
in Physical Review C
Morales A
(2014)
ß -decay studies of neutron-rich Tl, Pb, and Bi isotopes
in Physical Review C
Morales A
(2015)
First measurement of the ß -decay half-life of 206 Au
in EPL (Europhysics Letters)
Molina F
(2015)
T z = - 1 ? 0 ß decays of Ni 54 , Fe 50 , Cr 46 , and Ti 42 and comparison with mirror ( He 3 , t ) measurements
in Physical Review C
Modamio V
(2013)
Lifetime measurements in neutron-rich 63 , 65 Co isotopes using the AGATA demonstrator
in Physical Review C
Minkov N
(2014)
Influence of the octupole mode on nuclear high- K isomeric properties
in Physica Scripta
Minkov N
(2012)
Magnetic moments of K isomers as indicators of octupole collectivity
in The European Physical Journal A
Milne SA
(2016)
Isospin Symmetry at High Spin Studied via Nucleon Knockout from Isomeric States.
in Physical review letters
Milne S
(2016)
Mirrored one-nucleon knockout reactions to the T z = ± 3 2 A = 53 mirror nuclei
in Physical Review C
Mcfadden Johnjoe
(2015)
Good Vibrations
in SCIENTIST
McDaniel S
(2012)
Intermediate-energy inverse-kinematics one-proton pickup reactions on neutron-deficient f p -shell nuclei
in Physical Review C
McCleskey E
(2016)
Simultaneous measurement of ß -delayed proton and ? decay of P 27
in Physical Review C
Matta A
(2015)
New findings on structure and production of He 10 from Li 11 with the ( d , He 3 ) reaction
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. |