Investigating Nuclear Structure with Fast Neutrons

Intellectual Merit The research of the nuclear structure group at the University of Kentucky (UK) is focused on timely, related topics in nuclear spectroscopy, including neutron-induced reactions, neutron-emitting reactions, and neutron scattering. Most of this work takes advantage of the high-quality monoenergetic fast neutrons available at the UK Accelerator Laboratory. Collaborative research with colleagues from other institutions is emphasized in experiments at UK as well as those at other facilities. The broad-based research program will include selected studies in these forefront areas: „h nuclear structure relevant to double-beta decay „h nuclei undergoing shape transitions „h decays from collective excitations „h deformed structures and shape coexistence „h nuclear structure measurements in support of searches for fundamental symmetries. Lifetime measurements with the Doppler-shift attenuation method and ƒ×-ƒ× coincidence measurements, for which the methodology has been developed over many years in our laboratory, provide crucial information in many of these investigations. Additional projects that are particularly appropriate to the capabilities of the UK Accelerator Laboratory will be pursued. Broader Impacts Education at the undergraduate, graduate, and post-graduate levels continues as the nexus of the activities in our laboratory. Graduates of this research program receive hands-on experience with fast neutrons and the detection of the emitted radiations produced, and they emerge as well-trained nuclear scientists who are capable of important contributions to our national needs. Providing a supportive professional experience for students and postdoctoral scholars in nuclear science at UK is an ongoing, vital component of our program, and these participants enthusiastically take part in national and international scientific meetings and the activities of professional societies. In the past few years, female students have been a large component of our research group, and the last four doctoral graduates in nuclear physics from our group are women. In addition, research at a small accelerator laboratory, such as ours, permits the mentoring of young scientists on a daily basis. For many years, the research facilities of our laboratory have been made available to students and faculty from non-doctoral-granting institutions, as well as scientists from other research universities, national laboratories, and nuclear-related industry. Research collaborations have been encouraged and developed. Our UK colleagues and those from other institutions frequently take advantage of our laboratory facilities to obtain information that may be crucial for the design of experiments at larger facilities, e.g., TRIUMF, LANSCE, and JLAB, or in other areas of physics. Research performed in our laboratory has contributed directly to national interests, such as homeland security, and will continue to do so. These applications are well represented by the activities of government and industrial partners who utilize our accelerator and research equipment. For example, collaborative studies with colleagues from industry have led to improved neutron-detection-based methods for the inspection of luggage for explosives and illegal drugs. Data obtained in our laboratory has been used to evaluate direct energy-storage devices, and our facilities have been utilized by a local elemental analysis company for a variety of applications. In each case, the unique neutron physics capabilities of our laboratory are important considerations in their selection of our facility for this work.