Spectroscopy of Exotic Nuclei

The project will investigate the properties of nuclei that lie far from the line of maximum beta stability. The student will work on the experimental research programme using the ISOLDE Solenoidal Spectrometer (ISS), which was constructed as part of the STFC-funded ISOL-SRS project and is now in the full science exploitation phase. The ISS experiments use post accelerated beams of radioactive ions provided by HIE-ISOLDE to bombard deuterated targets. The ISS will measure the energies of light ions produced in transfer and inelastic scattering reactions in order to probe the properties of the states that are populated in the exotic nuclei. The student will actively participate in the experimental programme with the ISS and it is intended that the student will analyse data from an ISS experiment as part of their thesis. It is intended that the student will also undertake some preliminary investigations to prepare the way for future upgrades of the capabilities of the ISS. The student will have opportunities to participate in experiments at other nuclear physics facilities in order to broaden their experience. While the data analysis and interpretation will be primarily performed at Liverpool, the experimental work will be conducted at international accelerator laboratories and exploit state-of-the-art spectrometer systems. As part of their training and research on this project, the student would benefit from a Long Term Attachment at CERN.