RUI : Shell Structure and Isospin Symmetry in Exotic Nuclei

Ursinus College, Collegeville PA

Investigators

Abstract

This is a project engaging Ursinus College undergraduates in experimental nuclear structure research. The project is part of an ongoing collaboration with colleagues at the National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory (NSCL) and Florida State University (FSU) involving experimental work at the NSCL. The proposed work will contribute to the understanding of proton and neutron contributions to low-lying collective states in exotic nuclei outside the valley of stability. Proton and neutron contributions to nuclear excitations can be disentangled by comparing transition strengths measured using pairs of complementary experimental probes. The advent of radioactive beam technology has enabled such investigations away from stability through inverse-kinematics proton scattering and Coulomb excitation measurements. We plan to investigate the persistence of shell structure away from stability in neutron-rich exotic nuclei via inverse-kinematics proton scattering and test isospin symmetry in T=1 isospin multiplets near mass A=50 via Coulomb excitation. A central goal of the project is to maintain an active research program in nuclear structure on the Ursinus College campus. Ursinus College is a national liberal arts college of about 1475 students with a long history of strength in the sciences. This project will provide students opportunities to apply their knowledge of physics outside the classroom, gain practical skills in data acquisition and analysis, observe and participate in the operation of a nuclear accelerator facility, and present their work to colleagues. Participants will travel to the NSCL to perform experiments and analyze the data at Ursinus. They will present their results to the Ursinus community as part of the Ursinus College Summer Fellows Program and to the nuclear physics community at American Physical Society/Division of Nuclear Physics meetings.