[Triumf-seminars] TRIUMF Seminar today at 14:00

[postmaster at admin.triumf.ca]

Date/Time: Thu 2009-02-12 at 14:00

Location:  Auditorium          

Speaker:   Abigail Bickley (NSCL, Michigan State University)

Title:     Probing the Density Dependence of the Symmetry Energy

Abstract: The nuclear equation of state (EOS) provides a relationship between the thermodynamic variables that describe the nuclear system and in particular the binding of the nucleons.  This relationship is dominated by the influence of the isospin symmetric core of nuclei.  However, a significant correction factor, known as the symmetry energy, is required to account for the impact of an imbalance in the number of protons and neutrons present in isospin asymmetric nuclei.  The magnitude of the symmetry energy is expected to be strongly dependent upon the density of the system; hence it plays a large role in determining the properties of highly isospin asymmetric systems such as the global physical properties of neutron stars and the binding of neutron-rich nuclei.  Intermediate energy collisions of isospin asymmetric heavy ions provide a useful probe of the symmetry energy because they allow the binding properties of the nucleons to be studied over a wide range of densities.  Observation of the relative particle yields produced in these collisions is a key source of information about the reaction dynamics.  A new Active Target-Time Projection Chamber (AT-TPC) is being constructed at NSCL to study reactions induced by exotic beams.  Current constraints on the symmetry energy as well as future AT-TPC experiments will be discussed.

Stimulants available 15 minutes before the talk.

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