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New experiment could reveal make-up of the universe
August 06, 2009The detectors will become part of the Advanced Gamma Tracking Array (AGATA) experiment, currently based in Italy, which aims to create a 'fingerprint' of the inside of the atomic nucleus to understand the structure of all matter in the Universe, including human beings and the stars.
The experiment will help scientists analyse particle interactions that produce gamma rays, which are also commonly used for their penetrating properties in medical diagnostics and treatments such as PET scans and radiation therapy. Scientists will use these interactions - and the energy required to make them - to probe rare 'exotic' nuclei. These are formed by nuclear reactions, which occur in the heart of stars as well as the large accelerator facilities used to study them on earth.
Exotic nuclei are difficult to detect and consist of extreme proton and neutron ratios, making them highly unstable. The new experiment will help scientists understand why some nuclei are more stable than others and why they have a wide variety of different shapes.
The University's Department of Physics is home to the only gamma ray detector scanning system in Europe. The machine will scan the new detectors to help 'read' the signals produced by AGATA so that scientists can understand the properties required to create and sustain life in the Universe.
Dr Andy Boston, from the University's Department of Physics, explains: "There is a huge abundance of elements in the Universe, but we know very little about why this is. We can only begin to understand how these are formed by looking at a broad spectrum of nuclei, beyond those available on earth. We look at the stars to do this because they contain exotic nuclei. These nuclei have extreme proton and neutron ratios which make them unstable and decay very quickly, until the stable nuclei we have on earth are left behind.
"If we can understand the structure of these exotic nuclei then we can begin to understand the abundance of elements in the Universe today. State-of-the-art computers will help us do this by reconstructing the path of gamma rays around the new detector and recording the energy created.
"This energy, which is characteristic of the energy inside a nucleus, will help us create a 'fingerprint' of elements that make up our universe and produce a picture that will further understanding of how we interact with the natural world."
Technology built for AGATA will also help improve gamma-ray machines for medical imaging, as well as provide the expertise to develop portable radiation monitors that could be used by security services to detect dirty bombs and monitor radioactive waste.
University of Liverpool
The University's Department of Physics is home to the only gamma ray detector scanning system in Europe. The machine will scan the new detectors to help 'read' the signals produced by AGATA so that scientists can understand the properties required to create and sustain life in the Universe.
Dr Andy Boston, from the University's Department of Physics, explains: "There is a huge abundance of elements in the Universe, but we know very little about why this is. We can only begin to understand how these are formed by looking at a broad spectrum of nuclei, beyond those available on earth. We look at the stars to do this because they contain exotic nuclei. These nuclei have extreme proton and neutron ratios which make them unstable and decay very quickly, until the stable nuclei we have on earth are left behind.
"If we can understand the structure of these exotic nuclei then we can begin to understand the abundance of elements in the Universe today. State-of-the-art computers will help us do this by reconstructing the path of gamma rays around the new detector and recording the energy created.
"This energy, which is characteristic of the energy inside a nucleus, will help us create a 'fingerprint' of elements that make up our universe and produce a picture that will further understanding of how we interact with the natural world."
Technology built for AGATA will also help improve gamma-ray machines for medical imaging, as well as provide the expertise to develop portable radiation monitors that could be used by security services to detect dirty bombs and monitor radioactive waste.
University of Liverpool
Exotic Nuclei Current Events and Exotic Nuclei News RSSTheoretical nuclear physics in China
In recent years several Large-Scale Scientific Facilities (LSSF) for nuclear, hadronic, and particle physics have been upgraded and constructed in China.
Star light, star bright: FSU facility duplicating conditions of supernovas
How is matter created? What happens when stars die? Is the universe shrinking, or is it expanding? For decades, scientists have been looking for answers to such "big picture" questions.
New tool to measure speeding nuclei is a fast-beam first
An international collaboration at the Michigan State University National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory (NSCL) has demonstrated a new technique for studying particles traveling at one-third the speed of light.
Survey reveals British public don't know the difference between quarks and DNA - do you?
A survey commissioned by the Institute of Physics (IoP) has found that a staggering 98 percent of UK adults don't know what the world around us is made of. Just under two percent of those asked gave the right answer, quarks, the basic building blocks of all matter in the universe. The survey asked over 500 people what makes up the nucleus of an atom, and reveals a surprising lack of knowledge of nuclear physics which generates almost 25% of the UK's electricity supply, and provides the isotopes used in over 27,000 medical procedures every day. Next week (Monday 5th April) nuclear physicists will gather in Edinburgh to discuss the latest advances in our understanding of these fundamental pa
Physics World Digest: November 2002 edition
Art and science: a special issue Art is meeting science all around us. Every month brings word of some new exhibitions, competition, collaboration or example of art and science interacting. These can range from the modest – such as the appearance of a scientist in a minor subplot in a novel – to major initiatives such as the Signatures of the Invisible exhibition or the play Copenhagen. This special issue of Physics World looks at some of the issues surrounding these collaborations. How meaningful are they? Can scientists gain anything from their interactions with artists? And do artists and writers do anything more than use science as raw material? (pp. 29–42) Contact: Pet
Lise Meitner Prize 2002 Of The European Physical Society
Berlin, May 2002 The European Physical Society announces that the Lise Meitner Prize 2002 is awarded to Prof. James Philip Elliott, University of Sussex (UK) Prof. Francesco Iachello, University of Yale (USA) For their innovative applications of group theoretical methods to the understanding of atomic nuclei. The physics case The study of the discrete energy spectra of small quantum systems relates to fundamental symmetries in nature. These symmetries determine the "conserved quantities" describing the intrinsic properties of such systems and are needed in quantum mechanics to characterize the state of a system. Symmetries in nuclei have played a dominant role in the development of the unde
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Exotic Nuclei and Nuclear/Particle Astrophysics (II): Proceedings of the Carpathian Summer School of Physics 2007 (AIP Conference Proceedings / High Energy Physics) (No. 2) by Livius Trache (Author), Livius Trache (Editor), Sabin Stoica (Editor) The book represents the proceedings of the conference with the same name, held for two weeks in the Carpathian mountains resort of Sinaia, Romania. It aims to provide the reader with comprehensive reviews on topics in exotic nuclei, nuclear and particle astrophysics, including the most recent results in the field. The articles are written by outstanding professors from prestigious research centers over the world. It treats phenomena from the smallest to largest scales in the Universe, from nuclei to galaxies. On one hand, the study of exotic nuclei is seeking answers about the structure and interaction of unique finite quantum mechanical many-body systems. On another hand, it provides data that have impact on the understanding of the origin of the elements in the Universe. The... | |
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Structure and Reactions of Light Exotic Nuclei by Yasuyuki Suzuki (Author), Kazuhiro Yabana (Author), Rezso G. Lovas (Author), Kalman Varga (Author) This book provides an introduction into the rapidly developing field of light exotic nuclei, that is light nuclei of unusual composition. The research of the exotic nuclei began with the advent of accelerated beams of such nuclei. This new technique has revitalized nuclear physics, and the facilities producing radioactive ion beams and their theoretical hinterland now offer students the experience of pioneering research. The first part of the book considers the theory of collisions of light exotic nuclei and the second part is based on a multicluster model in which the intercluster motion is treated accurately. Current hot topics are included, as are more advanced areas of the theory, providing ideas for further study. The book is intended for both experimental and theoretical physicists... |
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International School of Heavy Ion Physics: 4th Course: Exotic Nuclei (The Science and Culture Series, Physics) by R. A. Broglia (Editor), P. Gregers Hansen (Editor) Presents the essence of the material from 10 days of lectures & research seminars at the Ettore Majorana Centre for Scientific Culture organized under the School of Heavy-Ion Physic in Erice (Sicily) on 11-20 May 1997, a course dedicated to the subject of Exotic Nuclei. | |
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ENAM98: Exotic Nuclei and Atomic Masses: Bellaire, Michigan, 23-27 June 1998 (AIP Conference Proceedings) (v. 455) by Bradley M. Sherill (Editor), David J. Morrissey (Editor), Cary N. Davids (Editor) The proceedings of the conference on Exotic Nuclei and Atomic Masses (ENAM98) are the scientific contributions to the most recent meeting in a long series that dates back to the late 1950s. The conference is held every three years and the participants produce a complete review of the fields of exotic nuclei; atomic masses, moments and radii of nuclei; fission, synthesis of heavy elements, the role of radioactive nuclei in the cosmos, fundamental studies and use of radioactive ion beams. The proceedings provide an excellent overview and an up to date summary of recent developments in a field that is undergoing a rapid growth due to the advent of radioactive ion beams. |
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Exotic Nuclei EXON-2001 by Yu E. Penionzhkevich (Editor), E. A. Cherepanov (Editor) Proceedings of the International Symposium held July 24-28, 2001 in Lake Baikal, Russia. Talks were given by the leading scientists in the physics of exotic nuclei. For researchers in nuclear, accelerator, applied and theoretical physics, as well as astrophysics, astronomy, and cosmology. |
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The Fourth International Conference on Exotic Nuclei and Atomic Masses: Refereed and Selected Contributions by Carl J. Gross (Editor) The International Conference on Exotic Nuclei and Atomic Masses (ENAM) has gained the status of the premier meeting for the physics of nuclei far from stability. The selected and refereed papers presenting the main results constitute valuable proceedings that offer everyone working in this field an authoritative and comprehensive source of reference. |
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International Symposium of Exotic Nuclei (AIP Conference Proceedings / High Energy Physics) by Yu. E. Penionzhkevich (Author), Yu. E. Penionzhkevich; E. A. Cherepanov (Editor) This book is a collection of talks presented at the International Symposium on "Exotic Nuclei" EXON2006 which was held in Khanty-Mansiysk Russia (Russia, west Siberia) during 17-22 July 2006. The International Symposium of Exotic Nuclei (EXON2006) was dedicated to the problems of producing and investigating nuclei far from the line of stability. The main goal of the Symposium was to discuss the latest results on the production and study of the properties of the lightest to heaviest nuclei, as well as, the plans for future joint investigations in the field of exotic nuclei. The big interest in the synthesis of new isotopes of the light elements could explain the numerous reports on this topic. In principle, in the region of neutron-rich isotopes of light elements the nucleon dripline... |
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Nuclear Physics and Astrophysics: From Stable Beams to Exotic Nuclei (AIP Conference Proceedings / High Energy Physics) by Ismail Boztosun (Editor), A. B. Balantekin (Editor) This international conference is about the physics that can be performed with beams of either stable or exotic nuclei as well as applications in astrophysics and incorporates both nuclear structure physics and reactions. Its main purpose is to provide a forum for sharing the works conducted in this popular area of nuclear physics. The collection of papers submitted by distinguished scientists from different parts of the world worldwide constitute a valuable resource for nuclear physicists and astrophysicists alike. |
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Exotic Nuclei and Atomic Masses: Proceedings of the Third International Conference on Exotic Nuclei and Atomic Masses ENAM2001. Hämeenlinna, Finland, 2-7 July 2001 by Juha Äystö (Editor), Peter Dendooven (Editor), Ari Jokinen (Editor), Matti Leino (Editor) The proceedings of this major nuclear physics conference report the state of the art in the field of exotic nuclei and nuclear masses. This includes the measurement of fundamental constants, the structure of nuclear matter, radioactivity and the synthesis of heaviest elements. A special session is devoted to the "laboratories" for nuclear reaction naturally provided by stars and other astronomical objects. Of special interest for the experts is the last section giving an outlook on future experimental and theoretical research. |
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International Symposium On Exotic Nuclei: Peterhof, Russia, July 5-12, 2004 by International Symposium on Exotic Nuclei (Author), Yu E. Penionzhkevich (Author), E. A. Cherepanov (Author) This volume comprises an important collection of papers dedicated to the problems of producing and investigating nuclei far from the line of stability. Together, they discuss the latest results on the production and study of the properties of the lightest to the heaviest nuclei as well as the current plans for future joint investigations in the field of exotic nuclei. The contributions from well-known experts in the field were presented at the International Symposium on Exotic Nuclei, jointly organized by four scientific centers where this field is actively pursued: Flerov Laboratory of Nuclear Reactions JINR (Dubna), RIKEN (Japan), GANIL (France), and GSI (Germany). Unique techniques for the synthesis and investigation of the properties of exotic nuclei are being developed together with... |
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