Probing Nuclear Sturcture with Fast Neutrons

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The research of the nuclear structure group at the University of Kentucky is focused on related topics in nuclear spectroscopy, neutron-induced reactions, and neutron scattering. Neutron scattering experiments at the University's accelerator laboratory are designed to a) explore multiphonon vibrations in spherical and deformed nuclei, b) examine the role of fast electromagnetic transitions in the decay of collective excitations, c) provide data leading to more realistic models of nuclear level densities, d) address the separate roles of neutrons and protons in nuclear excitations, and e) expand our understanding of nuclear shell structure and the nature of nuclear shape transitions. Recently developed techniques to measure short lifetimes with the Doppler-shift attenuation method and to perform gamma-gamma coincidences following inelastic neutron scattering are crucial in many of these studies. A new research direction has been initiated to take advantage of the special opportunities provided by the development of the GEANIE array of gamma-ray detectors coupled with the spallation neutron source at the Los Alamos Neutron Scattering Center (LANSCE). With the high-energy neutrons from this facility, nuclei not readily produced by charged-particle reactions will be explored.