Collaborative Research: RUI: Study of Nutron-Rich Nuclei and Neutron Detector Response

合作研究：RUI：富营养核和中子探测器响应的研究

• 批准号: 2311125
• 负责人: Anthony Kuchera
• 金额: $ 21万
• 依托单位: Davidson College
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2023
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2023-08-01 至 2026-07-31
• 项目状态: 未结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=2311125&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Collaborative; Research; RUI; Study; Nutron

This award will advance understanding of the nature of neutron-rich atomic nuclei, with undergraduate student participation as an integral component. Experiments will be conducted at the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams (FRIB) at Michigan State University (MSU) using the Modular Neutron Array (MoNA) and the Large-area multi-Institutional Scintillator Array (LISA), both constructed and tested by undergraduate students from several institutions in the MoNA collaboration. The PIs, along with their team of undergraduate students and other collaboration members, will investigate the structure of light neutron-rich nuclei near the limits of their stability, which will provide tests for current theoretical models of nuclear structure. These weakly-bound or unbound nuclei exhibit different structures compared with their stable counterparts. They are produced by collisions of an accelerated beam of nuclei with a stable target. In order to test and improve upon the accuracy of computer simulation, critical for analysis of data and extraction of physics results from experimental data, the PIs also conduct experiments at the Los Alamos Neutron Science Center (LANSCE) at Los Alamos National Laboratory. These experiments will directly observe neutron scattering in 16 MoNA detectors as a test of the simulation. The collaboration has a long-standing tradition of involving undergraduate student participation at the heart of its research activities. This research program provides cutting-edge research opportunities for undergraduate students, helping to train the next generation of scientists.The PIs and their undergraduate students will participate in two FRIB experiments using the Modular Neutron Array (MoNA), analyze recent and future data, and contribute to the improvement of Monte Carlo simulation used in data analysis. The two approved MoNA experiments at FRIB will study neutron-unbound states in neutron-rich nuclei (specifically 30F and 53Ca). The goal of the first experiment is to measure the 30F ground state for the first time, which will provide details on the structural changes in the fluorine isotopes. The goal of the second experiment is to better understand the N = 32 subshell closure by measuring unbound excited states in 53Ca. Both experiments provide data relevant for testing modern nuclear structure models. The PIs also seek to improve the computer modeling of neutron interactions in these plastic scintillators, critical for improving detector resolution and filtering of data for FRIB experiments. They will conduct a third approved neutron-scattering experiment at LANSCE using a diamond detector as active target in conjunction with 16 MoNA detectors. Two previous experiments by the PIs at LANSCE exposed some shortcomings of current simulation packages. The diamond detector, which consists only of C nuclei, allows for a focus on the neutron-carbon interactions that cause dark scattering in the plastic scintillators, which decrease position resolution in the array.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.

该奖项将促进对中子富原子核的性质的理解，并以本科生的参与作为不可或缺的组成部分。实验将在密歇根州立大学（MSU）的设施中使用模块化中子阵列（MONA）和大区域的多机构闪光阵列（LISA）进行实验，这些阵列（LISA）都是由MONA协作的本科生构建和测试的。 PIS以及他们的本科生和其他合作成员团队将研究其稳定性限制的光中子核的结构，这将为当前的核结构理论模型提供测试。 与稳定的对应物相比，这些弱结合或未结合的核表现出不同的结构。它们是由具有稳定靶标的加速核的碰撞而产生的。 为了测试和提高计算机模拟的准确性，对于数据分析和从实验数据提取的提取至关重要，PIS还在洛斯阿拉莫斯国家实验室的洛斯阿拉莫斯中子科学中心（LANSCE）进行实验。这些实验将直接观察到16个MONA检测器中的中子散射作为模拟测试。 该合作具有长期的传统，即在其研究活动的核心中涉及学生的参与。该研究计划为本科生提供了尖端的研究机会，帮助培训下一代科学家。PIS及其本科生将使用模块化中子阵列（MONA）参加两个FRIB实验，分析了最新和未来的数据，并有助于改进数据分析中使用的Monte Carlo模拟。 FRIB的两个批准的MONA实验将研究富含中子的核（特别是30F和53CA）中的中子脉状状态。第一个实验的目的是首次测量30F基态，这将提供有关氟同位素的结构变化的详细信息。第二个实验的目的是通过测量53CA中未绑定的激发态来更好地了解n = 32子壳闭合。这两个实验都提供了与测试现代核结构模型相关的数据。 PI还试图改善这些塑料闪烁体中中子相互作用的计算机建模，这对于改善检测器的分辨率和FRIB实验的数据过滤至关重要。 他们将使用钻石探测器与16个MONA探测器一起在LANSCE进行第三次认可的中子散射实验。 PIS在LANSCE上进行的两个实验暴露了当前仿真软件包的一些缺点。仅由C核组成的钻石探测器可以重点放在中子碳相互作用上，这些中子碳相互作用在塑料闪烁器中导致深色散射，从而减少了阵列中的位置分辨率。该奖项反映了NSF的法定任务，并通过使用该基金会的知识分子功能和广泛的影响来评估Criteria的智力功能和广泛的criteria，并被认为是值得通过评估的支持。