Towards a new global view of nuclear structure and nuclear matter through nuclei with large neutron to proton ratio

点击翻译按钮获取中文摘要

Searching for our origins has been one of mankind's greatest quests. Nuclei form the core of all matter. Their properties determine their interactions, allowing for the creation of elements necessary for our survival. It is through cascade of reactions of nuclei in the core of stars that key elements such as carbon, oxygen, iron, calcium that are necessary for our survival, came into being. The environment in the core of stars can be such that nuclei there have largely asymmetric ratio of neutrons to protons. Therefore, these neutron-proton asymmetric nuclei form the pathways to the existence of majority of the matter that we see around us. These nuclei are also our laboratory access to the neutron-rich matter existing in the universe. The neutron-proton asymmetric nuclei are unfolding before us an unexpectedly new view of the nucleus, questioning and challenging our half century-old knowledge of nuclei and nuclear forces. Unraveling the secrets of these exotic nuclei is now the forefront research activity in nuclear physics worldwide. These nuclei being very short-lived do not exist naturally on earth. Over the last two decades scientists have made a remarkable achievement to produce these rare isotopes in the laboratory through nuclear reactions. This research program uses accelerated beams of such rare isotopes in Canada's national laboratory TRIUMF, as well as other premier laboratories in the world to step out of the restricted knowledge we have from stable nuclear species on earth. The research results are Canada's major contribution to a massive effort world-wide in forming a complete global view of nuclei in the cosmos. This fundamental research will thus enlighten our society about neutron-rich objects in the universe and what drives exploding stars to produce all that we see around us.