Nuclear Structure and Reactions: Equipment for 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 international radioactive-beam facilities. 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.
Experimental progress is intimately linked with theory, where novel and practical approaches are a hallmark of the Surrey group. An outstanding feature, which is key to our group's research plans and is unique in the UK, is our powerful 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. To tackle these problems, 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. Much 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.
At the core of our experimental research is our strong participation at leading international radioactive-beam facilities. 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.
Experimental progress is intimately linked with theory, where novel and practical approaches are a hallmark of the Surrey group. An outstanding feature, which is key to our group's research plans and is unique in the UK, is our powerful 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. To tackle these problems, 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. Much 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.
Planned Impact
Here we address more specifically the wider community who may benefit from our basic research.
A key current topic is that of nuclear security. Here our advanced experimental and theoretical techniques may help to address the needs of the security industry. In this regard we are well connected with AWE plc, including collaborative PhD students.
We have recently developed strong links with the National Physical Laboratory, where we enhance their capabilities in radionuclide metrology.
Sustainable energy production is another vital issue for society, and nuclear energy has an important role to play. We have made fundamental advances that lead to a better understanding of decay heat in nuclear reactors. Furthermore, our basic studies of both reaction processes and the structure of unstable nuclei may be important for future nuclear energy technologies.
Cancer diagnosis and treatment is of great importance. Our radiation-detector advances can lead to improved imaging systems, that benefit cancer and other medical treatments.
A key current topic is that of nuclear security. Here our advanced experimental and theoretical techniques may help to address the needs of the security industry. In this regard we are well connected with AWE plc, including collaborative PhD students.
We have recently developed strong links with the National Physical Laboratory, where we enhance their capabilities in radionuclide metrology.
Sustainable energy production is another vital issue for society, and nuclear energy has an important role to play. We have made fundamental advances that lead to a better understanding of decay heat in nuclear reactors. Furthermore, our basic studies of both reaction processes and the structure of unstable nuclei may be important for future nuclear energy technologies.
Cancer diagnosis and treatment is of great importance. Our radiation-detector advances can lead to improved imaging systems, that benefit cancer and other medical treatments.
Publications
Arellano H
(2016)
Di-nucleon structures in homogeneous nuclear matter based on two- and three-nucleon interactions
in The European Physical Journal A
Arthuis P
(2022)
Quantum Monte Carlo in Configuration Space with Three-Nucleon Forces
Arthuis P
(2023)
Quantum Monte Carlo calculations in configuration space with three-nucleon forces
in Physical Review C
Atanasov D
(2015)
Precision Mass Measurements of ^{129-131}Cd and Their Impact on Stellar Nucleosynthesis via the Rapid Neutron Capture Process.
in Physical review letters
Atar L
(2018)
Quasifree (p, 2p) Reactions on Oxygen Isotopes: Observation of Isospin Independence of the Reduced Single-Particle Strength.
in Physical review letters
Barbieri C
(2017)
Recent Applications of Self-Consistent Green's Function Theory to Nuclei
Barbieri C
(2019)
Lepton scattering from Ar 40 and Ti 48 in the quasielastic peak region
in Physical Review C
Barbieri C
(2018)
Recent Applications of Self-Consistent Green's Function Theory to Nuclei
in Journal of Physics: Conference Series
Barbieri C
(2014)
Many-body Propagator Theory with Three-Body Interactions: a Path to Exotic Open Shell Isotopes
in Journal of Physics: Conference Series
Bazin D
(2017)
Doubly Magic Nickel
in Physics
Bertulani C
(2021)
Examination of the sensitivity of quasifree reactions to details of the bound-state overlap functions
in Physical Review C
Carbone A
(2014)
Correlated density-dependent chiral forces for infinite-matter calculations within the Green's function approach
in Physical Review C
Carbone A
(2014)
Tensor force effects and high-momentum components in the nuclear symmetry energy
in The European Physical Journal A
Chen S
(2019)
Quasifree Neutron Knockout from ^{54}Ca Corroborates Arising N=34 Neutron Magic Number.
in Physical review letters
Cipollone A
(2015)
Chiral three-nucleon forces and the evolution of correlations along the oxygen isotopic chain
in Physical Review C
De Roubin A
(2017)
Nuclear deformation in the A ˜ 100 region: Comparison between new masses and mean-field predictions
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 use computational resources to model the properties of atomic nuclei and to investigate the limit of existence of matter. Our work encompasses problems aimed at understanding the strong nuclear interaction among hadrons. This is the used to investigate the properties matter in neutron stars, to understand the exotic isotopes that at key to the synthesis of new chemical elements, an to predict nuclear reactions in stars. |
Exploitation Route | Advances of nuclear many-body theory can be exported to other disciplines, such as quantum chemistry. Improved knowledge of the nuclear interaction will be needed by astrophysicist to understand neutron stars, etc... New calculation in HFB will improve model of nuclear fusion. |
Sectors | Other |
Description | We use computational resources to model the properties of atomic nuclei and to investigate the limit of existence of matter. Our work encompasses problems aimed at understanding the strong nuclear interaction among hadrons. This is the used to investigate the properties matter in neutron stars, to understand the exotic isotopes that at key to the synthesis of new chemical elements, an to predict nuclear reactions in stars. |
First Year Of Impact | 2013 |
Sector | Other |
Impact Types | Cultural |
Description | Nuclei from Lattice QCD |
Organisation | RIKEN |
Department | RIKEN-Nishina Center for Accelerator-Based Science |
Country | Japan |
Sector | Public |
PI Contribution | Surrey performed ab initio studies of LQCD-derived nuclear forces |
Collaborator Contribution | Work by Prof. Hatsuda and collaborators at the iTHEMS and Quantum Hadron Physics Laboratory to provide nuclear forces derived from LQCD |
Impact | Phys. Rev. C 97, 021303(R) |
Start Year | 2015 |
Description | Surrey-Saclay |
Organisation | Saclay Nuclear Research Centre |
Country | France |
Sector | Public |
PI Contribution | Provided codes and know-how to develop GF Gorkov formalism and implementation. |
Collaborator Contribution | Help spreading and advertise my research |
Impact | Presentation of preliminary results at conference. Grant still ongoing. Results being written up. Output will be first ab-initio calculation of fully open shells. |
Start Year | 2010 |