The Study of Nuclear Physics with Intermediate Energy Probes

中能探针核物理研究

• 批准号: 1205782
• 负责人: Steffen Strauch
• 金额: $ 138万
• 依托单位: University South Carolina Research Foundation
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2012
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2012-06-01 至 2016-05-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1205782&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Study; Nuclear; Physics; Intermediate; Energy

Our research program at the University of South Carolina is based at the Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility in Newport News, Virginia. There, we use high-energy electron and photon beams along with sophisticated particle detectors as powerful microscopes to study the subatomic world. We try to answer questions like: What is the structure of the nucleon? What are and how can we excite its internal degrees of freedom? Once excited, in which way does the nucleon decay back to its original state? Does the structure of the nucleon change if it is embedded in dense nuclear matter? Do other subatomic particles change their properties if they are produced in dense nuclear matter? The experimental study of these properties gives insight into the nature of the strong force and allows for rigorous tests of the underlying theory.Almost the entire mass of an atom is concentrated in its tiny nucleus. The atomic nucleus is made of nucleons, which are either positively charged (protons) or electrically neutral (neutrons). These subatomic particles, however, are not elementary but are themselves composite objects made of quarks held together by the strong force via the exchange of glue particles (gluons). The structure of nucleons is a manifestation of that strongest force known to mankind. Although ninety-eight percent of the mass of ordinary matter is due to the strong force, the present theory of that force (Quantum Chromodynamics) is still not fully understood. This research will help to advance our understanding. The preparation of junior scientists plays a central role in the supported activities.

我们在南卡罗来纳州大学的研究项目是基于托马斯杰斐逊国家加速器设施在纽波特纽斯，弗吉尼亚州。 在那里，我们使用高能电子和光子束，沿着复杂的粒子探测器作为强大的显微镜来研究亚原子世界。 我们试图回答这样的问题：核子的结构是什么？ 什么是以及我们如何激发它的内部自由度？ 一旦被激发，核子会以何种方式衰变回它的原始状态？ 如果核子嵌入致密的核物质中，它的结构会改变吗？ 如果其他亚原子粒子在致密的核物质中产生，它们的性质会改变吗？ 对这些性质的实验研究使我们深入了解了强作用力的本质，并允许对基本理论进行严格的检验。原子的几乎全部质量都集中在它的微小原子核中。 原子核由核子组成，核子要么带正电（质子），要么电中性（中子）。 然而，这些亚原子粒子并不是基本粒子，它们本身是由夸克组成的复合物体，夸克通过强力通过胶粒子（胶子）的交换而结合在一起。 核子的结构是人类所知最强力的一种表现。虽然普通物质质量的98%是由于强力，但目前关于这种力的理论（量子色动力学）仍然没有完全理解。 这项研究将有助于提高我们的认识。 青年科学家的培养在所支助的活动中发挥着核心作用。