Nuclear Seminar

"ISAC, DRAGON and Exploding Stars "

John D'Auria, Professor Emeritus
Simon Fraser University of Canada

Monday, April 2, 2007   4:00 p.m.   NSH 124
(Refreshments served prior to seminar in NSH 124)

Experimental nuclear science took a quantum leap forward with the advent of using energetic exotic radioactive beams for a wide variety of studies in nuclear astrophysics, fundamental symmetries, nuclear structure at the limits of stability and condensed matter physics.  Probably the best facility in North America is the TRIUMF-ISAC facility (Canada).  Based upon the ISOL approach, it produces the most intense RB in the world.  A key application are measurements of rates of reactions occurring in exploding stars, involving radioactive reactants.  Such studies require an intense RB, a low velocity accelerator, an appropriate recoil mass separator, and experienced personnel.  This talk will review some of the history of RB production, but the main focus will be the experimental program using the DRAGON facility to measure key reaction rates involving species such as ²¹Na, ²⁶gAl, ⁴⁰Ca, and others.