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

[TRIUMF Seminars]

Date/Time: Thu 2014-03-13 at 14:00

Location:  Auditorium          

Speaker:   Michael Thoennessen (NSCL, Michigan State University)

Title:     Exploration of the Nuclear Universe

Abstract: Over 100 years after Rutherford discovered the atomic nucleus the limits of  what combinations of protons and neutrons can make up a nucleus are  still only known for the lightest elements. Exploring the nuclear  landscape and pushing towards the limits of nuclear existence is important for the understanding of the strong force and the element formation in the universe.  Even the observation of only a few nuclei of a new species can already yield important information for example on the evolution of the proton-neutron interaction as a function of isospin or the path of the rapid neutron capture process responsible for the synthesis of the heavy elements beyond iron.

After about 10 years of very little progress the discovery rate has increased tremendously during last few years. In 2010 over 100 new isotopes were reported which is the largest number of isotopes discovered in any given year. This increase is primarily due to the beginning of the operation of RIBF at RIKEN and to the technical advances to separate and identify heavy neutron-rich isotopes following uranium fragmentation at GSI. The new projects at GSI (FAIR) and MSU (FRIB) promise to expand the nuclear horizon even further.

Stimulants available 15 minutes before the talk.

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General TRIUMF seminar information available at http://www.triumf.ca/home/upcoming-events/about-seminars-lectures