Transfer-reaction studies at HIE-ISOLDE.

This project is built on the research opportunities opened up by the high-energy upgrade of the ISOLDE facility at CERN (HIE-ISOLDE) for the study of exotic nuclei using post-accelerated beams of unstable ions. In particular, we intend to use reaction methods, a powerful tool that in the past has delivered the most complete information on the properties of stable nuclei. Exotic nuclei are those composed by an unusual ratio of protons and neutrons, differing significantly from the ones normally found in nature. The discoveries made in recent years on these systems have profoundly shaken our picture of the structure of the atomic nucleus. This has, in turn, spurred the development of new methods for the collection of more detailed experimental information. A large collective effort of the nuclear physics community has been put in place to build new facilities and upgrade existing ones. Among these, the HIE-ISOLDE post-accelerator, to which Flanders has significantly contributed, will become operative in mid-2014. A unique range of exotic beams is available at this facility. With this proposal we begin to exploit this opportunity, exploring the structure of key systems which, thanks to the upgrade in energy, become accessible to reaction studies. We will use complementary detection techniques, with improvements on existing setups and the addition of novel instruments, which are supported by a number of international collaborations.

Keywords:Transfer reactions, Exotic nuclei, HIE-ISOLDE

Disciplines:Condensed matter physics and nanophysics