Edinburgh Nuclear Physics Consolidated Grant 2024-27

爱丁堡核物理综合赠款 2024-27

• 批准号: ST/Y000293/1
• 负责人: Marialuisa Aliotta
• 金额: $ 186.07万
• 依托单位: University of Edinburgh
• 依托单位国家: 英国
• 项目类别: Research Grant
• 财政年份: 2024
• 资助国家: 英国
• 起止时间: 2024 至 无数据
• 项目状态: 未结题
• 来源: https://gtr.ukri.org/projects?ref=ST%2FY000293%2F1
• 关键词: Edinburgh; Nuclear; Physics; Consolidated; Grant

Our research program seeks to answer key open questions on the origin of the elements in stars, the processes responsible for stellar explosions, and the behaviour of nuclei at the limits of existence.The experimental study of astrophysical reactions and nuclear properties requires cutting-edge instrumentation and suitable facilities for stable-, neutron-, and radioactive ion beams, as well as ion traps and decay spectrometers. The Group is uniquely well placed to exploit these capabilities at world-leading laboratories and has a strong track record in developing innovative instrumentation to match the unique requirements of different reaction- and nuclear properties studies. Over the coming grant period we will initiate a program of reaction studies at the LUNA underground facility to investigate the origin of carbon, nitrogen, and oxygen isotopes in first-generation stars and to explore alternative neutron sources for the early synthesis of heavy elements. Also at LUNA, we will exploit the recent installation of a new 3.5MV accelerator to investigate open questions on the core metallicity of the Sun, carbon fusion in massive stars, and neutron source reactions for the slow-neutron capture process. At the n_TOF (CERN) neutron beam facility, we will lead a rich program of neutron-induced reaction measurements, for example to explore the origin of radioactive 40K, believed to be responsible for heat generation in rocky exoplanets, elucidate the origin of rare pre-solar stardust grains with peculiar abundances of Si and S isotopes, and study the destruction of the cosmic gamma ray emitter 26Al in massive stars. We plan challenging neutron activation measurements on radioactive samples to help explain abundances of certain metal poor stars, and the origin of nature's rarest isotope 180mTa. Also at CERN, we plan to improve on our previous investigations of 44Ti-destruction to shed light on the final stages of supernovae explosions of massive stars. Storage rings will provide game-changing opportunities to study reactions with radioactive isotopes relevant to explosive astrophysical scenarios, by delivering both increased beam purity and intensities otherwise unavailable anywhere else in the world. At the Experimental Storage Ring at GSI we will explore the origin of some light p-nuclei, whose abundances are consistently underproduced by stellar models of core-collapse and type Ia supernovae. The Group has approved experiments to exploit the recently commissioned Edinburgh-built CARME detection system at the CRYRING storage ring to study key reactions of novae explosions. With beamtime already approved at TRIUMF we will investigate reactions involved in the production of 18F, a main cosmic-ray emitter from novae, and in the break-out from the Hot-CNO cycle in X-ray bursts.The Group has developed state of the art ion traps and radioactive decay detection systems to investigate masses and decay properties of exotic nuclei across wide areas of the nuclear landscape. Over the grant period, we will lead a program of high-precision mass measurements of neutron-rich light nuclei near closed shells as unique testbeds for modern nuclear theories. Further mass measurements of neutron-rich heavy nuclei will provide constraints to explosive nucleosynthesis in the r-process. Such studies will be complemented at RIKEN by decay measurements of nuclei in the rare-earth region by exploiting unique experimental capabilities including the Edinburgh-built AIDA device.Mass measurements near the proton-drip line will shed light on the limits of nuclear binding, while proton and alpha decay studies at Argonne will offer unique insights into the effect of nuclear shape on quantum tunnelling rates. With novel ion trapping devices developed in Edinburgh we will investigate exotic decay modes and radioactive molecules with potential for physics beyond the standard model and medical applications.

我们的研究计划旨在回答有关恒星元素起源、恒星爆炸过程以及存在极限下原子核行为的关键开放问题。天体物理反应和核特性的实验研究需要尖端仪器和合适的稳定、中子和放射性离子束设施，以及离子阱和衰变光谱仪。该集团拥有独特的优势，可以利用世界领先实验室的这些能力，并在开发创新仪器以满足不同反应和核性质研究的独特要求方面拥有良好的记录。在接下来的资助期内，我们将在 LUNA 地下设施启动一项反应研究计划，以调查第一代恒星中碳、氮和氧同位素的起源，并探索用于早期合成重元素的替代中子源。同样在 LUNA，我们将利用最近安装的新型 3.5MV 加速器来研究有关太阳核心金属丰度、大质量恒星中的碳聚变以及慢中子捕获过程的中子源反应的悬而未决的问题。在 n_TOF (CERN) 中子束设施中，我们将领导一个丰富的中子诱发反应测量计划，例如探索放射性 40K 的起源，据信它是岩石系外行星中热量产生的原因，阐明具有特殊丰度的 Si 和 S 同位素的稀有前太阳星尘颗粒的起源，并研究宇宙伽马射线发射器 26Al 的破坏。 巨大的恒星。我们计划对放射性样品进行具有挑战性的中子活化测量，以帮助解释某些贫金属恒星的丰度，以及自然界最稀有同位素 180mTa 的起源。同样在 CERN，我们计划改进之前对 44Ti 毁灭的研究，以揭示大质量恒星超新星爆炸的最后阶段。存储环将提供改变游戏规则的机会，通过提供世界其他地方无法提供的更高的光束纯度和强度，来研究与爆炸性天体物理场景相关的放射性同位素的反应。在 GSI 的实验储存环中，我们将探索一些轻 p 核的起源，其丰度在核心塌缩和 Ia 型超新星的恒星模型中一直不足。该小组已批准利用爱丁堡最近在 CRYRING 存储环上调试的 CARME 探测系统进行实验，以研究新星爆炸的关键反应。随着波束时间已在 TRIUMF 获得批准，我们将研究 18F（新星的主要宇宙射线发射体）的产生以及 X 射线爆发中热 CNO 循环的爆发所涉及的反应。该小组开发了最先进的离子阱和放射性衰变检测系统，以研究核景观广阔区域中外来核的质量和衰变特性。在资助期间，我们将领导一项对封闭壳层附近的富中子轻核进行高精度质量测量的计划，作为现代核理论的独特测试平台。富中子重核的进一步质量测量将为 r 过程中的爆炸性核合成提供限制。 RIKEN 将通过利用包括爱丁堡建造的 AIDA 装置在内的独特实验能力，对稀土区域的原子核进行衰变测量来补充这些研究。质子滴线附近的质量测量将揭示核结合的极限，而阿贡国家实验室的质子和 α 衰变研究将为核形状对量子隧道速率的影响提供独特的见解。通过在爱丁堡开发的新型离子捕获装置，我们将研究奇异的衰变模式和放射性分子，这些分子具有超出标准模型和医学应用的物理潜力。