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.

我们的研究项目旨在回答关于恒星中元素的起源、恒星爆炸的过程以及存在极限时原子核的行为等关键的开放性问题。天体物理反应和核性质的实验研究需要尖端的仪器和合适的稳定、中子和放射性离子束设施，以及离子阱和衰变谱仪。该集团在世界领先的实验室利用这些能力方面处于独特的有利地位，并在开发创新仪器以满足不同反应和核特性研究的独特要求方面拥有良好的记录。在即将到来的资助期内，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一个新的3.5MV加速器来研究太阳核心金属丰度、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等悬而未决的问题。在n_TOF（欧洲核子研究中心）中子束设施，我们将领导一个丰富的中子诱导反应测量计划，例如探索放射性40 K的起源，据信是负责岩石系外行星中的热产生，阐明具有特殊丰度的Si和S同位素的罕见太阳前星尘颗粒的起源，并研究大质量恒星中宇宙伽马射线发射体26 Al的破坏。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，以及自然界最稀有的同位素180 mTa的起源。同样在欧洲核子研究中心，我们计划改进我们以前对44 Ti破坏的研究，以揭示大质量恒星超新星爆炸的最后阶段。储存环将提供改变游戏规则的机会，研究与爆炸性天体物理场景相关的放射性同位素反应，通过提供世界其他地方无法获得的更高的光束纯度和强度。在GSI的实验储存环中，我们将探索一些轻p核的起源，它们的丰度一直低于核心坍缩和Ia型超新星的恒星模型。专家组已批准进行实验，利用最近委托汉堡建造的CARME探测系统，在RING储存环上研究新星爆炸的关键反应。利用TRIUMF已经批准的束流时间，我们将研究涉及18F（新星的主要宇宙射线发射体）产生的反应，以及X射线爆发中Hot-CNO循环的爆发。该集团开发了最先进的离子阱和放射性衰变检测系统，以研究核景观中广泛区域的奇异核的质量和衰变特性。在资助期内，我们将领导一个高精度测量封闭壳附近富中子轻核质量的项目，作为现代核理论的独特试验平台。丰中子重核的进一步质量测量将为r过程中的爆炸核合成提供约束。RIKEN将利用包括美国匹兹堡建造的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，以补充这些研究。质子滴线附近的质量测量将揭示核结合的极限，而阿贡的质子和α衰变研究将为核形状对量子隧穿速率的影响提供独特的见解。随着爱丁堡开发的新型离子捕获设备，我们将研究具有超越标准模型和医学应用的物理学潜力的奇异衰变模式和放射性分子。