April 25
Kate Jones (University of Tennessee-Knoxville)
Structure, Reactions, Astrophysics – Overlaps
in Low-Energy Nuclear Physics
An
important focus in low-energy nuclear physics has been the link to astrophysics,
and in particular, the synthesis of heavy elements in the cosmos. Nucleosynthesis occurs in different astrophysical
environments, including stars, novae, supernovae, not
to mention during the big bang itself. Each nucleosynthetic
pathway consists of many nuclear reactions, many on nuclei that have not been
produced in the laboratory. Some nuclei are intrinsically interesting because
of their unusual structure or their location in the chart of the nuclei. Many
interesting unstable nuclei available in modern accelerator facilities are
produced through a reaction. Reactions can also be used to study the structure
of nuclei. In this colloquium I will show results of nuclear reaction
measurements that have shone a light on nuclear astrophysics and/or nuclear
structure.