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
Leistenschneider E
(2018)
Dawning of the N=32 Shell Closure Seen through Precision Mass Measurements of Neutron-Rich Titanium Isotopes.
in Physical review letters
Litvinov Y
(2013)
Nuclear physics experiments with ion storage rings
in Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section B: Beam Interactions with Materials and Atoms
Liu H
(2012)
Understanding the different rotational behaviors of 252 No and 254 No
in Physical Review C
Liu H
(2014)
Favored configurations for four-quasiparticle K isomerism in the heaviest nuclei
in Physical Review C
Loebl N
(2012)
Single-particle dissipation in a time-dependent Hartree-Fock approach studied from a phase-space perspective
in Physical Review C
Lorusso G
(2015)
ß-Decay Half-Lives of 110 Neutron-Rich Nuclei across the N=82 Shell Gap: Implications for the Mechanism and Universality of the Astrophysical r Process.
in Physical review letters
Makek M
(2016)
Differential cross section measurement of the 12C(e,e'pp)10Beg.s. reaction
in The European Physical Journal A
Malain D
(2012)
An evaluation of the natural radioactivity in Andaman beach sand samples of Thailand after the 2004 tsunami.
in Applied radiation and isotopes : including data, instrumentation and methods for use in agriculture, industry and medicine
Maruhn J
(2014)
The TDHF code Sky3D
in Computer Physics Communications
Maruhn J
(2013)
The TDHF Code Sky3D
Mason P
(2013)
Half-life of the yrast 2 + state in 188 W: Evolution of deformation and collectivity in neutron-rich tungsten isotopes
in Physical Review C
Mason P
(2012)
Half-life of the I p = 4 - intruder state in 34 P: M 2 transition strengths approaching the island of inversion
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
Matta A
(2016)
NPTool: a simulation and analysis framework for low-energy nuclear physics experiments
in Journal of Physics G: Nuclear and Particle Physics
McCleskey E
(2016)
Simultaneous measurement of ß -delayed proton and ? decay of P 27
in Physical Review C
McDaniel S
(2012)
Intermediate-energy inverse-kinematics one-proton pickup reactions on neutron-deficient f p -shell nuclei
in Physical Review C
Mcfadden Johnjoe
(2015)
Good Vibrations
in SCIENTIST
Milne S
(2016)
Mirrored one-nucleon knockout reactions to the T z = ± 3 2 A = 53 mirror nuclei
in Physical Review C
Milne SA
(2016)
Isospin Symmetry at High Spin Studied via Nucleon Knockout from Isomeric States.
in Physical review letters
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
Modamio V
(2013)
Lifetime measurements in neutron-rich 63 , 65 Co isotopes using the AGATA demonstrator
in Physical Review C
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
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)
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
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
Muto S
(2014)
Magnetic properties of Hf 177 and Hf 180 in the strong-coupling deformed model
in Physical Review C
Mutschler A
(2016)
Spectroscopy of P 35 using the one-proton knockout reaction
in Physical Review C
Najem M
(2015)
Neutron production from flattening filter free high energy medical linac: A Monte Carlo study
in Radiation Physics and Chemistry
Nakamura T
(2014)
Deformation-driven p-wave halos at the drip line: 31Ne.
in Physical review letters
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
Nara Singh B
(2012)
Influence of the n p interaction on the ß decay of 94 Pd
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
Nita C
(2014)
Fast-timing lifetime measurements of excited states in Cu 67
in Physical Review C
Nociforo C
(2012)
Measurements of a-decay half-lives at GSI
in Physica Scripta
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
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. |