US-Germany Cooperative Research: International Collaboration Between HIGS and S-DALIC to Investigate the Dipole Strength in the Particle Threshold Region of Nuclei

Duke University, Durham NC

Investigators

Abstract

0233276 Weller This award supports Henry Weller, a junior faculty member, and two students from Duke University in a collaboration with Andreas Zilges of the Department of Nuclear Physics at the University of Darmstadt, Germany. The project will focus on determining the distribution of electric dipole strength close to the neutron threshold in nuclei. This strength has important implications for various nucleosynthesis processes. A combination of experiments using the intense white bremsstrahlung beam in Darmstadt and the completely linearly polarized monochromatic gamma-ray beam at Duke will allow for a systematic determination of the electric dipole strength distributions, provide complete decay schemes, and allow for unambiguous parity assignments. The collaboration will provide for the transfer of experimental expertise and equipment from the Darmstadt facility, which will help make the Duke facility a world-class facility. The project also has an educational objective. The project will allow the graduate students involved to benefit from performing research in another country. They will develop a heightened appreciation of the world around them while also learning important new technical skills.