Ion trapping and experimental nuclear physics KU Leuven
Implementation of an ionic trap and measurement of hyperfine structure constants for study of nuclear magnetic octupole moment.
Implementation of an ionic trap and measurement of hyperfine structure constants for study of nuclear magnetic octupole moment.
This project aims at measuring the properties of the cornerstones in
the nuclear chart: doubly-magic nuclei and their immediate
neighbors, in particular for those very far from stability (24O, 54Ca,
78Ni, 100Sn, 132Sn). Doubly-magic nuclei appear all over the
nuclear chart and those close to stability (16O, 40Ca and 48Ca, 56Ni
and 208Pb) have been studied in great detail and helped in
understanding the nuclear ...
The heaviest elements of Mendeleev's table form an intriguing research laboratory of interest for nuclear, atomic and astro-physics. The heaviest element experimentally produced on earth is Oganesson (118 protons). Such heavy atoms are radioactive and short lived but theory predicts an island of stability when going to even heavier elements. Their atomic structure is influenced by strong relativistic effects making it challenging to predict ...
The way the heaviest elements of the table of Mendeleev are constructed from their building blocks (the
electrons, protons and neutrons) and how they are formed in the Universe remains puzzling. Also, what can be
learned in that repect from the merging of two neutron stars, as recently observed through gravitational and
electromagnetic waves, is a highly unexplored terrain.
We propose an interlaced experimental and ...
The charge radius is one of the fundamental properties of the atomic nucleus upon which we build our
understanding of nuclear structure. It offers a great laboratory with which to test and improve our
understanding of nuclear structure, to design better models and predict the properties of nuclei that cannot
be studied in the laboratory, such as those found in exploding stars.
While great progress has been made in the last ...
The low-energy excited state of the thorium-229 (Th-229) nucleus has fascinated researchers for decades. With an excitation energy of only 8 eV, it is the only known nuclear isomeric state accessible to laser manipulation. This opens up a plethora of novel applications, ranging from tests on temporal variations of the fundamental interaction constants to technological implementations as an ultra-precise “optical nuclear clock”.
In a ...
With the construction of ITER well on its way and the first DEMO fusion power plant design studies emerging in many of the world’s fusion programs, nuclear fusion research is transitioning from small- and medium-size experimental to large-scale power plant applications. In the process, the efficient removal of power and reaction products from the reactor through the divertor is a key challenge for the development of a safe, reliable fusion ...
Although fission is known since the 1930’s, a truly microscopic description is still lacking. Several isotopes on the nuclear chart have been found to undergo a special process of fission, namely beta-delayed fission (βDF). This process can give us unique insights in the microscopic behavior of fission as it enables the study of fission at very low excitation energies and in regions of the nuclear chart with an unusual N/Zratio compared to ...