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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Reaching the superheavy elements: a new approach with a novel ultra-sensitive detector array. Our project aims to build the knowledge base underpinning the creation of new heavy elements and isotopes. This first direct investigation of the hoped-for benefits of using radioactive beams will enhance the strong reputation of Australian research in the fundamental subject of nuclear fusion. The unique and sophisticated scientific instrument to be developed will enhance the capability of our RIEF-fun ....Reaching the superheavy elements: a new approach with a novel ultra-sensitive detector array. Our project aims to build the knowledge base underpinning the creation of new heavy elements and isotopes. This first direct investigation of the hoped-for benefits of using radioactive beams will enhance the strong reputation of Australian research in the fundamental subject of nuclear fusion. The unique and sophisticated scientific instrument to be developed will enhance the capability of our RIEF-funded fusion product separator at the ANU, and use at overseas radioactive beam accelerators will showcase Australian technological achievement. This early participation in exciting, leading-edge developments will help Australian researchers to make full use of future, intense radioactive beam facilities, both in pure and applied research. Read moreRead less
Development of Advanced Detection Systems for Accelerator Mass Spectrometry. This project aims to expand significantly the range of isotopes available for accelerator mass spectrometry at the Australian National University to include the ability to detect manganese-53, nickel-59 and uranium-236 to ultra-sensitive concentrations. To achieve this, my extensive experience in fundamental nuclear physics will be exploited to develop a gas-filled magnet for the detection of mangnese-53 and nickel-59, ....Development of Advanced Detection Systems for Accelerator Mass Spectrometry. This project aims to expand significantly the range of isotopes available for accelerator mass spectrometry at the Australian National University to include the ability to detect manganese-53, nickel-59 and uranium-236 to ultra-sensitive concentrations. To achieve this, my extensive experience in fundamental nuclear physics will be exploited to develop a gas-filled magnet for the detection of mangnese-53 and nickel-59, and a time-of-flight detector to detect uranium-236. This project has applications in the topical areas of climate change and nuclear safeguards, as well as applications in the earth sciences and the management of nuclear waste.Read moreRead less
Developing and exploiting a beam of exotic neutron halo nuclei: probing quantum coherence and decoherence at the femtoscale. Developing an Australian rare isotope beam capability with unique features will be a breakthrough in Australia's capability in science. It will create new opportunities for local research with radioactive isotope beams, a field being vigorously developed world-wide, as new access to short-lived radioactive isotopes will open up many opportunities in fundamental research an ....Developing and exploiting a beam of exotic neutron halo nuclei: probing quantum coherence and decoherence at the femtoscale. Developing an Australian rare isotope beam capability with unique features will be a breakthrough in Australia's capability in science. It will create new opportunities for local research with radioactive isotope beams, a field being vigorously developed world-wide, as new access to short-lived radioactive isotopes will open up many opportunities in fundamental research and applications. The experience and strong international linkages from this project will facilitate the longer-term use of future large-scale international facilities. This project will also build links with other areas of research strength in Australia, and keep us at the cutting-edge in research and training in nuclear science, a matter of national importance.Read moreRead less
Breakup and Fusion of Stable and Radioactive Nuclei. All Research Priority areas use tools based on nuclear physics research. Further advances will come from new A$1bn accelerators of radioactive nuclei. Exploiting our new ideas, we will develop a unified framework allowing prediction of the products of nuclear reactions with stable and radioactive nuclei, giving a better understanding of the fundamental process of nuclear fusion, and of radioactive beam applications. Early participation in a si ....Breakup and Fusion of Stable and Radioactive Nuclei. All Research Priority areas use tools based on nuclear physics research. Further advances will come from new A$1bn accelerators of radioactive nuclei. Exploiting our new ideas, we will develop a unified framework allowing prediction of the products of nuclear reactions with stable and radioactive nuclei, giving a better understanding of the fundamental process of nuclear fusion, and of radioactive beam applications. Early participation in a significant new area of research will strengthen Australia's capacity to exploit future opportunities with these accelerators. Top-level research training in nuclear physics, a subject with strategic implications for Australia, will help in the forthcoming international shortage of nuclear experts. Read moreRead less
Structure of Exotic Neutron-Rich Nuclei Populated Using Novel Reaction Mechanisms. Over half of the nuclei believed to be stable to particle decay have not been studied due to the lack of available nuclear reactions. We have played a leading role in developing innovative techniques using incomplete-fusion and deep-inelastic reactions to access neutron-rich nuclei that were inaccessible prior to this work. This project aims to study new phenomena in exotic, neutron-rich nuclei, building on Aust ....Structure of Exotic Neutron-Rich Nuclei Populated Using Novel Reaction Mechanisms. Over half of the nuclei believed to be stable to particle decay have not been studied due to the lack of available nuclear reactions. We have played a leading role in developing innovative techniques using incomplete-fusion and deep-inelastic reactions to access neutron-rich nuclei that were inaccessible prior to this work. This project aims to study new phenomena in exotic, neutron-rich nuclei, building on Australia's existing investment in this area, and, through international scientific leadership, facilitating the access of Australian researchers to highly competitive overseas facilities.Read moreRead less
Characterising Nuclei Far from Stability With a Novel Recoil Spectrometer. A high sensitivity detector system for use in conjuction with a superconducting solenoidal transporter will be developed for gamma-ray and conversion spectroscopy of neutron-deficient nuclei. The technology will be optimised for near-symmetric heavy ion reactions and applied initially to the characterisation of shape co-existence in the light lead isotopes. These provide a major testing ground for the development of mean- ....Characterising Nuclei Far from Stability With a Novel Recoil Spectrometer. A high sensitivity detector system for use in conjuction with a superconducting solenoidal transporter will be developed for gamma-ray and conversion spectroscopy of neutron-deficient nuclei. The technology will be optimised for near-symmetric heavy ion reactions and applied initially to the characterisation of shape co-existence in the light lead isotopes. These provide a major testing ground for the development of mean-field theories used to predict the stability of heavy nuclei.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0453521
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$508,374.00
Summary
National Heavy Ion Accelerator. The principal objectives are to develop a facility to provide energetic heavy ions for basic science, applications and research training. This will be accomplished through an enhancement of a superconducting linear accelerator using innovative technology, and extension of the available beam species through improvements to a large electrostatic tandem accelerator. The facility provides research resources for a broad range of national and international users.
Dynamics of Nuclear Fusion: Evolution Through a Complex Multi-Dimensional Landscape. The key questions in the fusion of heavy nuclei form an interlocking puzzle, which can be resolved using our recently developed analysis concepts and measurement techniques. The newly completed, unique, and highly efficient superconducting fusion product separator, together with Australian's Heavy Ion Accelerator, will be used to unlock the puzzle and reveal how fusing nuclei evolve in a multi-dimensional landsc ....Dynamics of Nuclear Fusion: Evolution Through a Complex Multi-Dimensional Landscape. The key questions in the fusion of heavy nuclei form an interlocking puzzle, which can be resolved using our recently developed analysis concepts and measurement techniques. The newly completed, unique, and highly efficient superconducting fusion product separator, together with Australian's Heavy Ion Accelerator, will be used to unlock the puzzle and reveal how fusing nuclei evolve in a multi-dimensional landscape. This will impact on the emerging fields of superheavy element formation, physics with rare isotope beams, and on coupling-assisted quantum tunnelling. This project will maintain Australia's world-leading position in the current race to develop a quantitative understanding of fusion.
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