Nuclear reactions in the stellar environment

Description

Nuclear scattering processes underpin every astrophysical phenomenon, including the genesis of chemical elements. Experimentalists strive to build the catalogue of data about these fundamental processes, but much hasn’t been measured, much is beyond the reach of current technology to measure, and much will never be possible to measure. Experiments also create nuclei far from stability, the types of exotic nuclei that don’t exist in nature. In al these cases, theoretical studies are needed to interpret what data is obtained, but also predict what might be found and infer that which may not.

An available MSc or PhD project, modelling the collisions most likely in a stellar environment – individual nucleons or alpha particles interacting with a heavier nucleus, either elastically scattering, or undergoing fusion - is to consider scattering when the heavier nucleus contains an odd number of nucleons. In this case, the challenge is the intricate interaction of the valence nucleon with the core and the projectile. This project involves reviewing and developing scattering potentials based on different nuclear structure models including the shell model, and then applying them to an extension of a successful scattering theory that has predicted nuclear properties ahead of experiments, but thus far only for even-mass nuclei. The project will develop your coding skills, deepen your grasp of quantum physics, and give you experience with Australia’s best high performance computing resources. You will be encouraged to participate in the academic communities of three Group of Eight universities.

Desired background

Ideal candidates will have an undergraduate degree in any area of physics, with a background in applied mathematics. Coding experience and research training are assets. The successful applicant would need to meet the Australian Government H1E standards and UNSW entry standards.