Nuclear Physics at the Extremes: Theory & Experiment
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Surrey
Department Name: Physics
Abstract
For a hundred years, atomic nuclei have been probed more or less exclusively by studying collisions between stable beams and stable targets. This restricted the nuclei that could be studied to just a just a small fraction of those that are thought to exist. Most of the nuclei important to making all of the elements (in various stellar processes) have for example been inaccessible to experiment. The major thrust in nuclear physics worldwide, and a key priority in the UK's programme, is to reach out and study these exotic nuclei by using beams produced from short-lived radioactive isotopes. This in turn reveals that nuclear structure is not always like it seems to be for the stable nuclei, and nuclei are found to have surprising trends in stability and to have different shapes that will affect reaction rates inside stars and supernovae. At Surrey we take these UK priorities and the new opportunities very much to heart, and we seek out and lead programmes at the world's best facilities for making these radioactive beams. To make the beams is difficult and the facilities - as well as the research effort - are international in scale. Surrey builds and runs innovative experimental equipment at these facilities. The present grant request is focused on the exploitation of these capabilities at the best laboratories.
Experimental progress is intimately linked with theory, and the development of novel and better theoretical approaches are a hallmark of the Surrey group. An outstanding feature of the group as a whole, which is key to our research plans and acknowledged as a rare and valuable strength, 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's road map. 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. It is unknown whether, and to what extent, the neutrons and protons can show different collective behaviour or even 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, we need more powerful theories that can build this understanding into the calculations, and we need experimental information about nuclei with unusual numbers of neutrons relative to protons so that we can test our theoretical ideas. 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 made possible with radioactive beams and exploiting advances in computational power and analytical theories to bring superior new theoretical tools to bear on the latest observations.
Our principal motivation is the basic science and the STFC "big questions", and we contribute strongly to the world sum of knowledge and understanding. The radiation-detector advances that our work drives can be incorporated in medical diagnosis and treatment and in environmental management. We engage strongly with the National Physical Laboratory on these topics. 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. Furthermore, we have a keen interest in sharing our specialist knowledge with a wide audience, and actively pursue a public engagement agenda.
Experimental progress is intimately linked with theory, and the development of novel and better theoretical approaches are a hallmark of the Surrey group. An outstanding feature of the group as a whole, which is key to our research plans and acknowledged as a rare and valuable strength, 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's road map. 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. It is unknown whether, and to what extent, the neutrons and protons can show different collective behaviour or even 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, we need more powerful theories that can build this understanding into the calculations, and we need experimental information about nuclei with unusual numbers of neutrons relative to protons so that we can test our theoretical ideas. 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 made possible with radioactive beams and exploiting advances in computational power and analytical theories to bring superior new theoretical tools to bear on the latest observations.
Our principal motivation is the basic science and the STFC "big questions", and we contribute strongly to the world sum of knowledge and understanding. The radiation-detector advances that our work drives can be incorporated in medical diagnosis and treatment and in environmental management. We engage strongly with the National Physical Laboratory on these topics. 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. Furthermore, we have a keen interest in sharing our specialist knowledge with a wide audience, and actively pursue a public engagement agenda.
Planned Impact
The proposed research will benefit end users in the nuclear industry, such as AWE, National Nuclear Laboratory (NNL), the Environment Agency, BAE systems, Public Heath England and radiation detection instrumentation manufacturers such as Kromek, Canberra and ORTEC, through trained manpower (PhDs, PDRAs and graduates from the two Surrey MSc programmes on Medical Physics and Radiation and Environmental Protection) as well as the carefully measured and evaluated nuclear decay and structure data provided by the group. The Surrey group's formal links with the NPL Radioactivity Group as part of the wider NPL-Surrey partnership provide the ideal bridge to facilitate this. The Surrey/NPL link is crucial to the STFC funded UK Nuclear Data Network and provides a direct link to the UK Nuclear Science Forum (UKNSF), which is responsible for the industrial end users of nuclear data within the UK. Additional links with major end users of nuclear data include work with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
Nuclear medicine clinics worldwide measure the radioactivity content of radiopharmaceuticals, such as radium, immediately prior to administration (for patient safety and regulatory compliance). Beneficiaries of our research will therefore also be the 3000 (and growing) nuclear medicine clinics worldwide. The group's work in this field will contribute towards improved safety and effectiveness of treatment for hundreds of thousands of patients worldwide undergoing cancer therapy. It will also enable a major pharmaceutical company to meet regulatory requirements, and proceed with clinical trials on further alpha-particle emitting radiopharmaceuticals.
The many varied public engagement activities of the group will benefit wider society, whether it be schools, the media, policy makers or the wider public. The group will continue to contribute to the dissemination of expert knowledge and advice when science stories aligned with its research are in the news by talking to journalists in both the written and broadcast media and being prepared to be interviewed in the press, as they have done successfully for a number of years.
Through the various outreach activities to schools, science festivals, articles in the popular press, popular science books and television and radio programmes, the group will aim to 'inspire, enlighten and enthuse' not only the next generation of scientists and engineers, but those to whom the young turn for academic and career advice, such as parents and teachers.
Members of the group will provide expert advice on issues relating to this research and the wider area of nuclear and radiation physics and nuclear safety, to government committees and policy makers to ensure that, on such sensitive and often complex topics, policies are evidence based and founded on the most accurate available scientific knowledge.
Nuclear medicine clinics worldwide measure the radioactivity content of radiopharmaceuticals, such as radium, immediately prior to administration (for patient safety and regulatory compliance). Beneficiaries of our research will therefore also be the 3000 (and growing) nuclear medicine clinics worldwide. The group's work in this field will contribute towards improved safety and effectiveness of treatment for hundreds of thousands of patients worldwide undergoing cancer therapy. It will also enable a major pharmaceutical company to meet regulatory requirements, and proceed with clinical trials on further alpha-particle emitting radiopharmaceuticals.
The many varied public engagement activities of the group will benefit wider society, whether it be schools, the media, policy makers or the wider public. The group will continue to contribute to the dissemination of expert knowledge and advice when science stories aligned with its research are in the news by talking to journalists in both the written and broadcast media and being prepared to be interviewed in the press, as they have done successfully for a number of years.
Through the various outreach activities to schools, science festivals, articles in the popular press, popular science books and television and radio programmes, the group will aim to 'inspire, enlighten and enthuse' not only the next generation of scientists and engineers, but those to whom the young turn for academic and career advice, such as parents and teachers.
Members of the group will provide expert advice on issues relating to this research and the wider area of nuclear and radiation physics and nuclear safety, to government committees and policy makers to ensure that, on such sensitive and often complex topics, policies are evidence based and founded on the most accurate available scientific knowledge.
Organisations
Publications
Zhang G
(2019)
Interplay of quasiparticle and vibrational excitations: First observation of isomeric states in 168Dy and 169Dy
in Physics Letters B
Yang L
(2021)
Insight into the reaction dynamics of proton drip-line nuclear system 17F+58Ni at near-barrier energies
in Physics Letters B
Wu X
(2017)
Systematic study of multi-quasiparticle K -isomeric bands in tungsten isotopes by the extended projected shell model
in Physical Review C
Wu J
(2022)
First observation of isomeric states in Zr 111 , Nb 113 , and Mo 115
in Physical Review C
Wood R
(2017)
Three-quasiparticle isomer in Ta 173 and the excitation energy dependence of K -forbidden transition rates
in Physical Review C
Wimmer K
(2019)
Discovery of 68Br in secondary reactions of radioactive beams
in Physics Letters B
Wiederhold J
(2019)
Evolution of E 2 strength in the rare-earth isotopes Hf 174 , 176 , 178 , 180
in Physical Review C
Wen K
(2018)
Two-body dissipation effect in nuclear fusion reactions
in Physical Review C
Wen K
(2019)
Dissipation Dynamics of Nuclear Fusion Reactions
in Acta Physica Polonica B
Welker A
(2017)
Binding Energy of ^{79}Cu: Probing the Structure of the Doubly Magic ^{78}Ni from Only One Proton Away.
in Physical review letters
Watanabe Y
(2021)
First direct observation of isomeric decay in neutron-rich odd-odd Ta 186
in Physical Review C
Watanabe H
(2019)
New isomers in 125Pd79 and 127Pd81: Competing proton and neutron excitations in neutron-rich palladium nuclides towards the N = 82 shell closure
in Physics Letters B
Walker PM
(2020)
Properties of ^{187}Ta Revealed through Isomeric Decay.
in Physical review letters
Walker P
(2022)
Isomers as a bridge between nuclear and atomic physics
in Radiation Physics and Chemistry
Walker P
(2021)
Configuration mixing and K -forbidden E 2 decays
in Physical Review C
Walker P
(2017)
Isomer building blocks and K -forbidden decays
in Physica Scripta
Walker P
(2020)
100 years of nuclear isomers-then and now
in Physica Scripta
Vorabbi M
(2024)
Microscopic optical potentials for medium-mass isotopes derived at the first order of Watson multiple-scattering theory
in Physical Review C
Vockerodt T
(2021)
Calculating the S -matrix of low-energy heavy-ion collisions using quantum coupled-channels wave-packet dynamics
in Physical Review C
Vockerodt T
(2019)
Describing heavy-ion fusion with quantum coupled-channels wave-packet dynamics
in Physical Review C
Vaquero V
(2019)
Inclusive cross sections for one- and multi-nucleon removal from Sn, Sb, and Te projectiles beyond the N = 82 shell closure
in Physics Letters B
Van Den Bossche R
(2019)
Modelling incomplete fusion dynamics of complex nuclei at Coulomb energies
in Physical Review C
Van Den Bossche R
(2020)
Production of transuranium isotopes in Ne 20 -induced incomplete fusion reactions
in Physical Review C
Uthayakumaar S
(2022)
Spectroscopy of the T = 3 2 A = 47 and A = 45 mirror nuclei via one- and two-nucleon knockout reactions
in Physical Review C
Timofeyuk N
(2017)
Hyperspherical Harmonics Expansion on Lagrange Meshes for Bosonic Systems in One Dimension
in Few-Body Systems
Timofeyuk N
(2020)
Theory of deuteron stripping and pick-up reactions for nuclear structure studies
in Progress in Particle and Nuclear Physics
Timofeyuk N
(2019)
Three-body problem with velocity-dependent optical potentials: a case of ( d , p ) reactions
in Journal of Physics G: Nuclear and Particle Physics
Timofeyuk N
(2020)
Three-nucleon force contribution to the deuteron channel in ( d , p ) reactions
in Physical Review C
Timofeyuk N
(2018)
Three-nucleon force contribution in the distorted-wave theory of ( d , p ) reactions
in Physical Review C
Timofeyuk N
(2020)
Modelling overlap functions for one-nucleon removal: role of the effective three-nucleon force
in Journal of Physics G: Nuclear and Particle Physics
Tang TL
(2020)
First Exploration of Neutron Shell Structure below Lead and beyond N=126.
in Physical review letters
Sun Y
(2020)
Restoration of the natural E(1/2 1 + ) - E(3/2 1 + ) energy splitting in odd-K isotopes towards N = 40
in Physics Letters B
Sumikama T
(2021)
Observation of new neutron-rich isotopes in the vicinity of Zr 110
in Physical Review C
Stryjczyk M
(2023)
Simultaneous ? -ray and electron spectroscopy of Hg 182 , 184 , 186 isotopes
in Physical Review C
Stevenspon P
(2020)
Mercury, the pear-shaped nucleus
Stevenson P
(2018)
Low-Energy Heavy-Ion Reactions and the Skyrme Effective Interaction
Stevenson P
(2019)
A time-dependent Hartree-Fock study of triple-alpha dynamics
Stevenson P
(2019)
Low-energy heavy-ion reactions and the Skyrme effective interaction
in Progress in Particle and Nuclear Physics
Stevenson P
(2020)
A time-dependent Hartree-Fock study of triple-alpha dynamics
in SciPost Physics Proceedings
Stevenson P
(2020)
Internuclear potentials from the Sky3D code
in IOP SciNotes
Spieker M
(2019)
Experimental identification of the T = 1 , J p = 6 + state of Co 54 and isospin symmetry in A = 54 studied via one-nucleon knockout reactions
in Physical Review C
Spieker M
(2019)
One-proton and one-neutron knockout reactions from N = Z = 28 Ni 56 to the A = 55 mirror pair Co 55 and Ni 55
in Physical Review C
Spagnoletti P
(2019)
Lifetimes and shape-coexisting states of Zr 99
in Physical Review C
Somà V
(2020)
Novel chiral Hamiltonian and observables in light and medium-mass nuclei
in Physical Review C
Scott M
(2017)
Observation of the Isovector Giant Monopole Resonance via the ^{28}Si(^{10}Be,^{10}B^{*}[1.74 MeV]) Reaction at 100 AMeV.
in Physical review letters
Title | The TDHF code Sky3D version 1.1 |
Description | The nuclear mean-field model based on Skyrme forces or related density functionals has found widespread application to the description of nuclear ground states, collective vibrational excitations, and heavy-ion collisions. The code Sky3D solves the static or dynamic equations on a three-dimensional Cartesian mesh with isolated or periodic boundary conditions and no further symmetry assumptions. Pairing can be included in the BCS approximation for the static case. The code is implemented with a view to allow easy modifications for including additional physics or special analysis of the results. The previous version of this program (AESW_v1_0) may be found at http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cpc.2014.04.008. |
Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
Year Produced | 2018 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
URL | https://data.mendeley.com/datasets/vzbrzvyrn4/1 |