Studies in Nuclear Physics and Fundamental Interactions at Indiana University

Indiana University, Bloomington IN

Investigators

Abstract

New information on the behavior of protons and neutrons, the building blocks of the atomic nuclei, can advance physics and clarify the interpretation of astronomical observations. The PIs will conduct a focused set of precision measurements involving protons and neutrons to probe the poorly-understood internal dynamics inside the proton, search for new forces of nature, and quantify some of the key nuclear reaction rates which test the predictions of the Big Bang theory of the universe. These research activities develop new technologies and educate the next generation of skilled PhD scientists for jobs in research and teaching universities, industry and national labs, and medical and computer technology. The PIs study the poorly-understood dynamics of how the proton's spin angular momentum is built from quarks and gluons and their orbital motion and how the quarks and gluons `fragment’ into the particles that are observed in detectors. The PIs measure the size of constructive interference in neutrino scattering from protons and neutrons in the nucleus to test the Standard Model of particles and to calibrate supernova neutrino detectors. The PIs measure different types of spin-dependent neutron interactions with matter, some which can only be caused by new types of forces, and measure the rates of certain nuclear reactions which are known to be important to understand the dynamics of the early universe. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.