Nuclear Structure, Mesoscopic Physics and Double-Beta Decay

核结构、介观物理和双贝塔衰变

• 批准号: 1404442
• 负责人: B. Alex Brown
• 金额: $ 87万
• 依托单位: Michigan State University
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Continuing Grant
• 财政年份: 2014
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2014-06-15 至 2017-11-30
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1404442&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Nuclear; Structure; Mesoscopic; Physics; Double

The elements observed on the earth and in our sun contain the most stable isotopes of nuclei. However, there are a great many other forms of these isotopes with greater or lesser numbers of neutrons that only exist for a short time. The formation of these unstable nuclei is essential for understanding the origin of the observed elements during astrophysics events such as supernovae explosions. This project in nuclear theory will contribute significantly to our understanding of the observed properties of stable and unstable nuclei and predicts properties that are not yet observed. This research quantifies the limits of nuclear stability and chains of formations and decays that are needed for understanding the formation of elements during the evolution of the universe. Nuclear decays are determined by the properties of the fundamental particles. The investigators will also study a form of double-beta decay in which no neutrinos are emitted and in which the mass of the neutrino may be determined. Furthermore, this project will advance computational and analytical methods in nuclear physics, and will add to an already rich computational program for nuclear structure that is being used worldwide.Nuclear physics is at the heart of our understanding of the universe and the types of elementary particles with which it is composed. This project will have a significant impact on new developments in the field of nuclear theory, fundamental symmetries, nuclear astrophysics and the general field of mesoscopic physics. Topics to be studied include: (1) development of new analytical and computational tools for the description of nuclear structure (2) detailed theoretical studies of nuclear processes affecting unstable nuclei; (iii) calculations and modeling of structural and dynamical aspects of nuclear processes, including reactions of astrophysical interest; (iv) calculations of nuclear properties related to fundamental symmetries and double-beta decay; (v) development of the unified description of structure and reactions in open and marginally stable mesoscopic systems and quantum transport in problems of interest to quantum informatics; (vi) studies of the nucleus as a mesoscopic system, including many-body quantum chaos and its coexistence with collective and regular features. Many of these research topics are connected to the experimental programs at the National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory (NSCL) and other laboratories worldwide. This work is also closely coupled with the Joint Institute for Nuclear Astrophysics (JINA), and some projects bridge nuclear structure theory with other areas, such as condensed matter physics and quantum information. Strong educational and outreach component are integral components of this effort, as the nuclear physics program at MSU is widely recognized worldwide as a top program in this discipline.

在地球和太阳上观测到的元素含有最稳定的原子核同位素。然而，还有许多其他形式的这些同位素，其中子数或多或少，只存在很短的时间。这些不稳定核的形成对于理解超新星爆炸等天体物理事件中观测到的元素的起源至关重要。这个核理论项目将大大有助于我们理解稳定和不稳定核的观测性质，并预测尚未观测到的性质。这项研究量化了核稳定性的极限以及理解宇宙演化过程中元素形成所需的形成和衰变链。核衰变是由基本粒子的性质决定的。研究人员还将研究双β衰变的一种形式，在这种形式中没有中微子被发射出来，并且中微子的质量可以被确定。此外，该项目还将推进核物理学的计算和分析方法，并将为全世界正在使用的核结构计算程序增添内容。核物理学是我们理解宇宙及其组成的基本粒子类型的核心。该项目将对核理论、基本对称性、核天体物理学和介观物理学一般领域的新发展产生重大影响。将研究的主题包括：（1）开发新的分析和计算工具，用于描述核结构;（2）对影响不稳定核的核过程进行详细的理论研究;（3）计算和模拟核过程的结构和动力学方面，包括具有天体物理学意义的反应;（4）计算与基本对称性和双β衰变有关的核特性;（v）发展开放和边缘稳定介观系统中结构和反应的统一描述，以及量子信息学感兴趣的问题中的量子输运;（vi）研究作为介观系统的原子核，包括多体量子混沌及其与集体和规则特征的共存。这些研究课题中的许多都与国家超导回旋加速器实验室（NSCL）和世界各地其他实验室的实验计划有关。这项工作也与核天体物理联合研究所（JINA）密切合作，一些项目将核结构理论与其他领域联系起来，如凝聚态物理和量子信息。强有力的教育和推广组成部分是这一努力的组成部分，因为在MSU的核物理程序是世界公认的在这一学科的顶级程序。