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
Milne S
(2016)
Mirrored one-nucleon knockout reactions to the T z = ± 3 2 A = 53 mirror nuclei
in Physical Review C
Tostevin J
(2014)
Systematics of intermediate-energy single-nucleon removal cross sections
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
Johnson R
(2014)
Adiabatic model of ( d , p ) reactions with explicitly energy-dependent nonlocal potentials
in Physical Review C
Carbone A
(2013)
Self-consistent Green's functions formalism with three-body interactions
in Physical Review C
Brown S
(2012)
Low-lying neutron f p -shell intruder states in 27 Ne
in Physical Review C
Mutschler A
(2016)
Spectroscopy of P 35 using the one-proton knockout reaction
in Physical Review C
Hlophe L
(2013)
Separable representation of phenomenological optical potentials of Woods-Saxon type
in Physical Review C
Wu X
(2017)
Systematic study of multi-quasiparticle K -isomeric bands in tungsten isotopes by the extended projected shell model
in Physical Review C
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
Isaule F
(2016)
Di-neutrons in neutron matter within a Brueckner-Hartree-Fock approach
in Physical Review C
Capel P
(2013)
The ratio method: A new tool to study one-neutron halo nuclei
in Physical Review C
Kucuk Y
(2014)
Intermediate-energy four-body breakup calculations for C 22
in Physical Review C
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
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
Modamio V
(2013)
Lifetime measurements in neutron-rich 63 , 65 Co isotopes using the AGATA demonstrator
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
Peters W
(2012)
Reply to "Comment on 'Neutron knockout of 12 Be populating neutron-unbound states in 11 Be ' "
in Physical Review C
Dutra M
(2012)
Skyrme interaction and nuclear matter constraints
in Physical Review C
Sellahewa R
(2014)
Isovector properties of the Gogny interaction
in Physical Review C
Simpson E
(2012)
Projectile deformation effects on single-nucleon removal reactions
in Physical Review C
Voss P
(2014)
Mg 19 two-proton decay lifetime
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
Shane R
(2012)
Proton and neutron knockout from 36 Ca
in Physical Review C
Kobayashi N
(2012)
One- and two-neutron removal reactions from the most neutron-rich carbon isotopes
in Physical Review C
Fernández-Domínguez B
(2015)
Spectroscopic study of the exotic nucleus P 25
in Physical Review C
Timofeyuk N
(2013)
Nonlocality in the adiabatic model of A ( d , p ) B reactions
in Physical Review C
Bunce M
(2013)
High-spin study of the shell model nucleus 88 Y 49
in Physical Review C
Al-Dahan N
(2012)
Multiple ß - decaying states in 194 Re: Shape evolution in neutron-rich osmium isotopes
in Physical Review C
Swan T
(2012)
Hindered decays from a non-yrast four-quasiparticle isomer in 164 Er
in Physical Review C
Akber A
(2015)
Increased isomeric lifetime of hydrogen-like Os 192 m
in Physical Review C
Reinhard P
(2016)
Sensitivity of the fusion cross section to the density dependence of the symmetry energy
in Physical Review C
Morales A
(2014)
ß -decay studies of neutron-rich Tl, Pb, and Bi isotopes
in Physical Review C
Riley L
(2012)
? -ray spectroscopy of one-proton knockout from 45 Cl
in Physical Review C
Goddard P
(2016)
Fission dynamics within time-dependent Hartree-Fock. II. Boost-induced fission
in Physical Review C
Debenham D
(2016)
Spectroscopy of Kr 70 and isospin symmetry in the T = 1 f p g shell nuclei
in Physical Review C
Randisi G
(2014)
Structure of 13 Be probed via secondary-beam reactions
in Physical Review C
Cáceres L
(2015)
Nuclear structure studies of F 24
in Physical Review C
Nara Singh B
(2012)
Influence of the n p interaction on the ß decay of 94 Pd
in Physical Review C
Gonzalez-Boquera C
(2017)
Higher-order symmetry energy and neutron star core-crust transition with Gogny forces
in Physical Review C
Liu H
(2014)
Favored configurations for four-quasiparticle K isomerism in the heaviest nuclei
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
Stevenson P
(2016)
Skyrme tensor force in heavy ion collisions
in Physical Review C
Goddard P
(2013)
Dipole response of 76 Se above 4 MeV
in Physical Review C
Wimmer K
(2014)
Elastic breakup cross sections of well-bound nucleons
in Physical Review C
Shi Y
(2012)
Superdeformed multi-quasiparticle high- K states and possible isomers in Pb and Po isotopes
in Physical Review C
Fracasso S
(2012)
Unrestricted Skyrme-tensor time-dependent Hartree-Fock model and its application to the nuclear response from spherical to triaxial nuclei
in Physical Review C
Ding D
(2016)
Pairing in high-density neutron matter including short- and long-range correlations
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. |