[Triumf-seminars] TRIUMF Colloquium today at 10:30

[postmaster at admin.triumf.ca]

Date/Time: Thu 2010-05-20 at 10:30

Location:  Auditorium          

Speaker:   Reiner Krücken (Technical University of Munich)

Title:     Exploring the strong and the weak in nuclei

Abstract: The strong and the weak interaction govern the structure, dynamics, and stability of atomic nuclei. While the strong interaction determines for example the binding energy and excitation spectrum of this two-component quantum many body system, the weak interaction determines the half-lives and weak decay modes. Weak nuclear decays can also be used for precision tests of fundamental symmetries. The interplay of both interactions is essential for determining the role of nuclei in the synthesis of chemical elements in stellar burning or star explosions. In particular short-lived nuclei far from stability are of intense current interest due to theoretical predictions and experimental evidence of significant changes to the nuclear shell structure far from stability, leading to the disappearance of classic shell closures and the appearance of new magic numbers. Investigations of the Gamow-Teller strength in nuclei are relevant for core collapse supernovae as well as providing input for neutrinoless double beta decay studies while superallowed Fermi decays can be used to test the unitarity of the CKM matrix. In this overall context I will report on our recent experimental program to study the aforementioned topics at a number of facilities like the Munich Tandem accelerator, GSI Darmstadt, ISOLDE (CERN), RIBF (RIKEN), and TRIUMF. This research is embedded in the scientific program of the Maier-Leibnitz-Laboratory for Nuclear-, Particle-, and Accelerator Physics in Munich as well as the Munich Cluster of Excellence on the Origin and Structure of the Universe. The experiences gained from the broad cross-linked scientific programs of both institutions can serve as an important reference with respect to the scientific future for TRIUMF.


Stimulants available 15 minutes before the talk.

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