Nuclear Structure, Mesoscopic Physics and Double-Beta Decay

核结构、介观物理和双贝塔衰变

• 批准号: 1404442
• 负责人: B. Alex Brown
• 金额: $ 87万
• 依托单位: Michigan State University
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Continuing Grant
• 财政年份: 2014
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2014-06-15 至 2017-11-30
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1404442&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Nuclear; Structure; Mesoscopic; Physics; Double

The elements observed on the earth and in our sun contain the most stable isotopes of nuclei. However, there are a great many other forms of these isotopes with greater or lesser numbers of neutrons that only exist for a short time. The formation of these unstable nuclei is essential for understanding the origin of the observed elements during astrophysics events such as supernovae explosions. This project in nuclear theory will contribute significantly to our understanding of the observed properties of stable and unstable nuclei and predicts properties that are not yet observed. This research quantifies the limits of nuclear stability and chains of formations and decays that are needed for understanding the formation of elements during the evolution of the universe. Nuclear decays are determined by the properties of the fundamental particles. The investigators will also study a form of double-beta decay in which no neutrinos are emitted and in which the mass of the neutrino may be determined. Furthermore, this project will advance computational and analytical methods in nuclear physics, and will add to an already rich computational program for nuclear structure that is being used worldwide.Nuclear physics is at the heart of our understanding of the universe and the types of elementary particles with which it is composed. This project will have a significant impact on new developments in the field of nuclear theory, fundamental symmetries, nuclear astrophysics and the general field of mesoscopic physics. Topics to be studied include: (1) development of new analytical and computational tools for the description of nuclear structure (2) detailed theoretical studies of nuclear processes affecting unstable nuclei; (iii) calculations and modeling of structural and dynamical aspects of nuclear processes, including reactions of astrophysical interest; (iv) calculations of nuclear properties related to fundamental symmetries and double-beta decay; (v) development of the unified description of structure and reactions in open and marginally stable mesoscopic systems and quantum transport in problems of interest to quantum informatics; (vi) studies of the nucleus as a mesoscopic system, including many-body quantum chaos and its coexistence with collective and regular features. Many of these research topics are connected to the experimental programs at the National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory (NSCL) and other laboratories worldwide. This work is also closely coupled with the Joint Institute for Nuclear Astrophysics (JINA), and some projects bridge nuclear structure theory with other areas, such as condensed matter physics and quantum information. Strong educational and outreach component are integral components of this effort, as the nuclear physics program at MSU is widely recognized worldwide as a top program in this discipline.

在地球和太阳上观察到的元素包含核的最稳定同位素。但是，这些同位素有很多其他形式，这些同位素具有或多或少仅在短时间内存在。这些不稳定核的形成对于理解天体物理事件（例如超新星爆炸）期间观察到的元素的起源至关重要。核理论中的这个项目将对我们对稳定和不稳定核观察到的特性的理解产生重大贡献，并预测尚未观察到的特性。这项研究量化了核稳定性的局限性以及理解宇宙演化过程中元素形成所需的形成和衰减的链条。核衰减取决于基本颗粒的特性。研究人员还将研究一种双β衰变的形式，其中未发出中微子，可以确定中微子的质量。此外，该项目将推进核物理学的计算和分析方法，并将增加用于全球使用的核结构的计算计划。核物理学是我们对宇宙的理解及其组成的基本颗粒的类型的核心。该项目将对核理论领域，基本对称性，核天体物理学和介质物理学的一般领域的新发展产生重大影响。要研究的主题包括：（1）开发用于描述核结构的新的分析和计算工具（2）详细的影响不稳定核的核过程的理论研究； （iii）核过程的结构和动力学方面的计算和建模，包括天体物理兴趣的反应； （iv）与基本对称性和双β衰减有关的核性质的计算； （v）开发统一的结构和反应在开放和边缘稳定的介质系统和量子传输中的统一描述； （vi）对核作为介观系统的研究，包括多体量子混乱及其与集体和常规特征的共存。这些研究主题中的许多与全球国家超导回旋实验室（NSCL）和其他实验室的实验计划有关。这项工作还与核天体物理学联合研究所（JINA）紧密相结合，一些项目与其他领域（例如凝聚的物理学和量子信息）桥接了核结构理论。强大的教育和外展成分是这项工作的组成部分，因为MSU的核物理计划在全球范围内被广泛认为是该学科中的顶级计划。