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THE ATOMIC NUCLEUS: core of matter, fuel of stars galaxy 1021 m Gravitational Force General Relativity matter 10-1 m DNA 10-8 m Electromagnetic Force QED crystal 10-9 m Weak Force Standard Model Strong Force atom 10-10 m atomic nucleus 10-14 m nucleon 10-15 m QCD <10-18 m electron quark quark-gluon plasma The Physics of Nuclei involves many diverse phenomena at vastly Atomicscales, nucleus: different from elementary entities to Z protons, N neutrons stellar objects Complex many-body system where three interactions (strong, The hierarchy of weak and Coulomb decreasing dimensions: forces) come into play from galaxies to quarks, Verythrough dense the matter: Earth, 99.9% of atomic mass molecules, atoms and (a tablespoon of nuclear matter would weigh as much nuclei as 3000 aircraft carriers) THE ORIGIN OF NUCLEI: we are all made of stardust On Earth today: only stable nuclei very small fraction of all possible (Z,N) !! 15 billion years 1 billion years time Heavier elements: 300.000 years created in nuclear reactions in stars and in stellar 3 minutes explosions, going on ... have a successful description of the nuclei 1 We thousandth of a second we know but … After the Big Bang: our understanding of the effective interaction quarks & gluons in then hadrons nuclei is limited and possibly flawed then H &with He [Li,Be] e.g. little known about the dependence asymmetry (N−Z)∕(N+Z) THE ADVENT OF RADIOACTIVE ION BEAMS (RIB): ‘gene pool’ of nuclei on Earth brings a new era New phenomena observed physics of weakly bound Progress in accelerator quantum systems and detector technology Theorists served with an unprecedented wealth of data makes a bold leap forward that challenges the best of nuclear models! possible: production of exotic nuclei with very different N, Z numbers from the known isotopes achieved with RIB facilities experiments start unveiling the properties of short lived, weakly bound nuclei far from stability extend our knowledge of nuclear structure Major next generation facilities planned or underway in Europe (GSI, EURISOL), the USA (RIA), Japan (RIKEN), ... THE ADVENT OF RADIOACTIVE ION BEAMS (RIB): ‘gene pool’ of nuclei on Earth brings a new era New phenomena observed physics of weakly bound quantum systems Theorists served with an unprecedented wealth of data that challenges the best of nuclear models! ● Goals for Nuclear Structure Theory: Identify/investigate many-body methods that will extend to exotic nuclei Generate improved effective interactions Make reliable predictions Guide experimental efforts Pursue interdisciplinary overlaps (e.g., with astrophysics) THE SCIENCE CASE OF EXOTIC NUCLEI: at the shores of the nuclear landscape terra incognita less than 300 stable known nuclei THE SCIENCE CASE OF EXOTIC NUCLEI: at the shores of the nuclear landscape neutron stars Stable nuclei: protons Unstable nuclei: neutrons Physics at the neutron drip line: unconventional is normal NUCLEAR EQUATION OF STATE: from terrestrial matter to compact stars SCENES FROM THE SKIES: Watch an artist’s vision of a city-sized neutron star as it ploughs through the skies centered in a disk of hot plasma drawn from its enfeebled red companion star: … ravenously accreting material from the disk, the neutron star spins faster and faster emitting powerful particle beams and X-ray pulses as it rotates 400 times a second ... Neutron star movie FROM QCD TO HEAVY NUCLEI: theory advances building bridges REMARKS: •Studies in the past mostly restricted to stable nuclei with N∕Z= 1 - 1.5 •One of the main thrusts in nuclear physics today: synthesize and study the most exotic nuclear species at the very boundaries of stability •Field is vital and intensely active, in rapid advance worldwide •This is Physics in Action: newest experiments reveal need for an improved many-body theory of the nucleus, which in turn can guide the experimental efforts •Interdisciplinary science. Important for astrophysics and the events that shape the fate of the Cosmos in the core of stars REMARKS: •Studies in the past mostly restricted to stable nuclei with N∕Z= 1 - 1.5 …ultimately ‘Bringing Heavens Down to •Field is vital and intensely active, in rapid Earth’ advance worldwide ! •One of the main thrusts in nuclear physics today: synthesize and study the most exotic nuclear species at the very boundaries of stability •This is Physics in Action: newest experiments reveal need for an improved many-body theory of the nucleus, which in turn can guide the experimental efforts •Interdisciplinary science. Important for astrophysics and the events that shape the fate of the Cosmos in the core of stars Further information: • http://www.gsi.de/GSI-Future/cdr http://www.gsi.de/zukunftsprojekt/index_e.html The GSI upgrade project Credits: this presentation uses pictures and figures taken from the • http://www.orau.org/ria/ The RIA (Rare Isotope Accelerator) project GSI and RIA links as well as from other websites which provide information related to the fields of exotic nuclei and astrophysics.