Exploring Nuclear Structure with Fast Neutrons

英国肯塔基大学核结构课题组的基础研究项目集中在核光谱学、中子诱导反应和中子散射等方面。这项工作的大部分将利用英国加速器实验室生产的快中子和该实验室开发的辐射探测能力。这项基础广泛的研究计划将包括对经历形状振荡和跃迁的原子核的选定研究，质子和中子在核激发中的作用，核壳结构，以及与稀有衰变模式相关的数据。核素水平寿命测量方法是我们实验室多年来发展起来的，它为许多此类研究提供了关键信息。将继续开展特别适合英国加速器实验室现有能力的其他项目，并强调与其他机构的同事进行合作研究。研究生和研究生水平的教育是我们实验室所有活动的一个组成部分，这个项目的毕业生是训练有素的核科学家，他们在满足我们国家的需要方面很重要。为学生提供支持性的专业经验是我们项目的一个持续的、重要的组成部分，这些学生热情地参与其他设施的实验、科学会议和专业协会的活动。在像我们这样的小型加速器实验室进行研究，可以每天对年轻科学家进行指导。多年来，我们实验室的研究设施已经开放给非博士学位授予机构的学生和教师，以及来自其他研究型大学、国家实验室和核相关行业的科学家。在我们实验室进行的研究直接促进了国家利益，如国土安全和先进核反应堆的设计，并将继续这样做。利用我们的加速器和研究设备的政府和工业合作伙伴的活动很好地代表了这些应用。例如，与工业界同事的合作研究已经改进了基于中子探测的方法，用于检查行李中的爆炸物和非法药物，我们实验室获得的数据已用于评估直接储能装置。在每种情况下，我们实验室的独特能力都是选择我们的设施进行这项工作的重要考虑因素。

The basic research program of the nuclear structure group at the University of Kentucky (UK) is focused on timely topics in nuclear spectroscopy, neutron-induced reactions, and neutron scattering. Most of this work will utilize fast neutrons produced at UK's accelerator laboratory and the radiation detection capabilities developed in this laboratory. The broad-based research program will include selected studies of nuclei undergoing shape oscillations and transitions, the roles of protons and neutrons in nuclear excitations, nuclear shell structure, and data relevant to rare decay modes. Nuclear level lifetime measurements, for which the methodology has been developed over many years in our laboratory, provide crucial information in many of these investigations. Additional projects that are particularly appropriate to the capabilities available at the UK accelerator laboratory will be pursued, and collaborative research with colleagues from other institutions is emphasized.Education at the graduate and post-graduate levels is an integral part of all activities in our laboratory, and graduates of this program are trained nuclear scientists who are important in meeting our national needs. Providing a supportive professional experience for students is an ongoing, vital component of our program, and these students enthusiastically participate in experiments at other facilities, scientific conferences, and the activities of professional societies. Research at a small accelerator laboratory, such as ours, permits the mentoring of young scientists on a daily basis. For many years, the research facilities of our laboratory have been made available to students and faculty from non-doctoral-granting institutions, as well as scientists from other research universities, national laboratories, and nuclear-related industry. Research performed in our laboratory has contributed directly to national interests, such as homeland security and the design of advanced nuclear reactors, and will continue to do so. These applications are well represented by the activities of government and industrial partners who utilize our accelerator and research equipment. For example, collaborative studies with colleagues from industry have led to improved neutron-detection-based methods for the inspection of luggage for explosives and illegal drugs, and data obtained in our laboratory has been used to evaluate direct energy-storage devices. In each case, the unique capabilities of our laboratory were important considerations in the selection of our facility for this work.