The Strong and Weak Interactions Investigated in Exotic Nuclei with Lasers.

In this project we will investigate both the strong and the weak interaction in exotic nuclei by using complementary experimental techniques and by combining the expertise of the partners in order to access different nuclear observables. The aim of this proposal is to obtain information on the structure of some key nuclei and their immediate neighbors (e.g. 79Cu, 101Sn) and to study the evolving nuclear structure in specific regions of the nuclear chart that are benchmarks for testing state-of-the-art nuclear models. To improve the limits on new physics in the Standard Model, a state-of-the art experiment will be designed. Lasers form the common theme throughout this proposal. They will be used for the production of pure isomeric beams for decay studies and for Coulomb-excitation or transfer-reaction studies with post-accelerated (isomeric) RIBs, giving access to the nuclear spin degree of freedom. They will also be used as a tool to determine fundamental properties of exotic nuclei (spins, radii, moments) and by combining our expertise in laser polarization and beta-asymmetry precision measurements we will test the standard model in the weak interaction regime. With these aims we have defined three work packages: WP1: study the evolution of quantum states, topologies and nucleon-nucleon correlations in exotic nuclei; WP2: investigation of the atomic and nuclear properties towards the heaviest elements; WP3: search for physics beyond the Standard Model in asymmetric beta-decay. To reach the goals set out in WP1 to WP3, new experimental techniques need to be developed and combined with existing ones. These are outlined in Work package 4: WP4: Developments of laser-based techniques.