Investigating the 7Be(p,p) Reaction for Astrophysical Processes during Hydrogen burning in Stars

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My Ph.D. project at the University of Edinburgh is concerned with the experimental investigation of the 7Be(p,p) elastic scattering, which is important to better understand the 7Be(p,gamma)8B reaction in the Sun. The study involves designing and setting up the experimental setup as part of an international collaboration at the Centre for Isotopic Research on the Cultural and Environmental heritage (CIRCE) located in Caserta, Italy. Alongside practical experimentation I am also simulating the reaction beforehand to obtain a preliminary understanding of expected results and for early optimisation of experimental aspects (target properties, detector geometries, etc.). It is also anticipated that I will perform theoretical calculations once data is obtained, using models such as R-matrix theory. In addition, I will also be involved with the study of other reactions of astrophysical interest which complement the 7Be(p,p) case. These are highly likely to include 7Li(p,p), 6Li(p,alpha) and 6Li(p,gamma). The latter two reactions are currently being studied at the Laboratory for Underground Nuclear Astrophysics (LUNA) located in Gran Sasso, Italy, where I'll be taking data from mid to late March and contribute to the data analysis.