Magnetic moments of radioactive beams - an incisive probe of novel structures in neutron-rich nuclei. This project gives Australian scientists, whose expertise underpins recent ground-breaking success, the opportunity for continued leadership in research with international large-scale radioactive beam facilities - a scientific frontier of high technical and intellectual standing. In the process of studying the fundamental goal of nuclear physics, to reach a unified understanding of all nuclei, i ....Magnetic moments of radioactive beams - an incisive probe of novel structures in neutron-rich nuclei. This project gives Australian scientists, whose expertise underpins recent ground-breaking success, the opportunity for continued leadership in research with international large-scale radioactive beam facilities - a scientific frontier of high technical and intellectual standing. In the process of studying the fundamental goal of nuclear physics, to reach a unified understanding of all nuclei, it will develop the basic science needed for future applications of exotic isotopes, e.g. in materials science and medicine. Including experiments in Australia and abroad, it offers an exceptional breadth of training to address the shortage of nuclear expertise needed by the health sector, industry, government, and for national security.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0560959
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$165,000.00
Summary
The Macquarie National Low Temperature Optoelectronic Thin Film Growth Facility. Funding is requested for an Australian facility for the growth of nitride and oxide thin films with in-situ optical analysis equipment for the monitoring of growth parameters. It is envisaged that this facility would be for the development of materials and device structures for photonic, electronic and optoelectronic applications. The facility will also provide a leading Australian source of these materials for fund ....The Macquarie National Low Temperature Optoelectronic Thin Film Growth Facility. Funding is requested for an Australian facility for the growth of nitride and oxide thin films with in-situ optical analysis equipment for the monitoring of growth parameters. It is envisaged that this facility would be for the development of materials and device structures for photonic, electronic and optoelectronic applications. The facility will also provide a leading Australian source of these materials for fundamental material studies utilising nuclear analysis and implantation technologies, high resolution X-ray diffraction, high spatial resolution micro-cathodoluminescence and other forms of analysis. Ex-situ optical analysis equipment is also requested for post-growth evaluation to compliment and evaluate the in-situ analysis.Read moreRead less
Pure and applied nuclear structure research with radioactive ion beams at Californium Rare Ion Breeder Upgrade (CARIBU). The structure of exotic neutron-rich nuclei will be investigated at the Californium Rare Ion Breeder Upgrade (CARIBU) radioactive ion beam facility using new and novel detector systems. The results will enhance our fundamental understanding of the atomic nucleus and stellar nucleosynthesis as well as provide important data for the development of next generation nuclear reactor ....Pure and applied nuclear structure research with radioactive ion beams at Californium Rare Ion Breeder Upgrade (CARIBU). The structure of exotic neutron-rich nuclei will be investigated at the Californium Rare Ion Breeder Upgrade (CARIBU) radioactive ion beam facility using new and novel detector systems. The results will enhance our fundamental understanding of the atomic nucleus and stellar nucleosynthesis as well as provide important data for the development of next generation nuclear reactors.Read moreRead less
Superdeformed nuclei and their decay: challenging nuclear models and probing quantum tunnelling. Nuclear superdeformation, where the atomic nucleus adopts an elongated, ellipsoidal shape and can undergo rapid rotation, offers a fascinating opportunity to study quantum mechanical effects in a system where single-particle and collective regimes overlap. The superdeformed shape itself is a spectacular example of collective motion in a mesoscopic system, while the rapid change to a sperhical shape ....Superdeformed nuclei and their decay: challenging nuclear models and probing quantum tunnelling. Nuclear superdeformation, where the atomic nucleus adopts an elongated, ellipsoidal shape and can undergo rapid rotation, offers a fascinating opportunity to study quantum mechanical effects in a system where single-particle and collective regimes overlap. The superdeformed shape itself is a spectacular example of collective motion in a mesoscopic system, while the rapid change to a sperhical shape is an excellent example of quantum-assisted tunnelling. The results of this project will shed light on this important process and provide a stringent test of our understanding of the nucleus.Read moreRead less
Isomers as Probes of Nuclear Structure and Sources of Energetic Photons. The aim is to study exotic long-lived states in nuclei using accelerator facilities in Australia and overseas. This involves the development of sensitive instrumentation and will lead to a new understanding of how such states are formed, of how they may be used to identify the structure of exotic nuclei, and on the limits of stability of nuclei in general. Isomers represent a special form of nuclear matter and they play a r ....Isomers as Probes of Nuclear Structure and Sources of Energetic Photons. The aim is to study exotic long-lived states in nuclei using accelerator facilities in Australia and overseas. This involves the development of sensitive instrumentation and will lead to a new understanding of how such states are formed, of how they may be used to identify the structure of exotic nuclei, and on the limits of stability of nuclei in general. Isomers represent a special form of nuclear matter and they play a role in the formation of the elements in stellar nucleosynthesis. Stimulated isomer decay may ultimately lead to new forms of energy storage and gamma-ray lasers.Read moreRead less
Moments, monopoles and the emergence of nuclear collectivity. The project aims to elucidate the origin and nature of collective nuclear vibrations. Recent evidence that vibrational nuclei might not vibrate after all has shaken the foundations of nuclear theory. This project will measure electric monopole transitions and magnetic moments to help determine these nuclei’s true nature, and expose how their collectivity emerges from the complexity of the underlying single-particle motion. The expecte ....Moments, monopoles and the emergence of nuclear collectivity. The project aims to elucidate the origin and nature of collective nuclear vibrations. Recent evidence that vibrational nuclei might not vibrate after all has shaken the foundations of nuclear theory. This project will measure electric monopole transitions and magnetic moments to help determine these nuclei’s true nature, and expose how their collectivity emerges from the complexity of the underlying single-particle motion. The expected outcome is a deeper understanding of emergent phenomena in quantum many-body systems like the atomic nucleus.Read moreRead less
Quantum-number purity and limits to the formation of nuclear K-isomers. This internationally competitive research will result in new knowledge and the substantiation of Australian research in the nuclear structure area, as well as adding to our role in international scientific collaborations. The research is an important component of the local expertise in nuclear science established using Australian facilities which provide the major training ground for basic research, a variety of application ....Quantum-number purity and limits to the formation of nuclear K-isomers. This internationally competitive research will result in new knowledge and the substantiation of Australian research in the nuclear structure area, as well as adding to our role in international scientific collaborations. The research is an important component of the local expertise in nuclear science established using Australian facilities which provide the major training ground for basic research, a variety of applications and which also provide a source of strategically important expertise.
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Structure of Hadronic Excitations from Lattice Quantum Chromodynamics. Quantum chromodynamics describes the fundamental strong interactions between quarks and gluons as they compose hadrons such as the proton or neutron. Beyond these lowest-energy systems, the quantum mechanical excitation spectra display a rich and complex structure. Remarkably, little is known about the internal structure of these states. The central goal of this project is to unveil the nature of hadrons and their excited sta ....Structure of Hadronic Excitations from Lattice Quantum Chromodynamics. Quantum chromodynamics describes the fundamental strong interactions between quarks and gluons as they compose hadrons such as the proton or neutron. Beyond these lowest-energy systems, the quantum mechanical excitation spectra display a rich and complex structure. Remarkably, little is known about the internal structure of these states. The central goal of this project is to unveil the nature of hadrons and their excited states using the first principles approach of lattice gauge theory. By elucidating aspects of hadron structure in terms of the most fundamental non-perturbative quark and gluon fields, the project will create new knowledge impacting on renowned experimental programs at international facilities.Read moreRead less
Electromagnetic structure of hadronic excitations from lattice quantum chromodynamics. Just as quantum electrodynamics describes the quantum mechanical excitation spectra of atomic systems, quantum chromodynamics (QCD) describes the excitation spectra of quark and gluon systems, such as the proton. This project will resolve the internal structure of the low-lying excitations of QCD, as being investigated at international facilities.
Alpha-particle cluster structure in light nuclei: helping and hindering fusion? A new, efficient detector system will be designed and built to answer a question never before asked - can the special structures of carbon, resembling three alpha-particles, assist rather than hinder the process of fusion with heavy nuclei? This question has arisen through my recent work published in Nature, which showed that in reactions with heavy nuclei, paradoxically both fusion and break-up into alpha-particles ....Alpha-particle cluster structure in light nuclei: helping and hindering fusion? A new, efficient detector system will be designed and built to answer a question never before asked - can the special structures of carbon, resembling three alpha-particles, assist rather than hinder the process of fusion with heavy nuclei? This question has arisen through my recent work published in Nature, which showed that in reactions with heavy nuclei, paradoxically both fusion and break-up into alpha-particles are more likely for carbon than for neighbouring nuclei. These results defy interpretation within the standard theory of nuclear fusion. The project will help to maintain Australia's world-leading position in the study of nuclear fusion.
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