Project description
An unprecedented look at nuclear shape observables
According to the Standard Model of particle physics, the strong force is one of the four fundamental forces of nature. It binds three quarks to make protons and neutrons and is thus essential to the structure of atomic nuclei. The strong interaction and strongly interacting matter are at the heart of some of the most important unanswered questions about the origin, structure and evolution of matter in our universe. Funded by the European Research Council, the NSHAPE project will combine laser spectroscopy and muon-X-ray spectroscopy at leading accelerator facilities to derive nuclear shape observables (radii and moments) with unprecedented accuracy, providing new insight into the strong interactions in atomic nuclei.
Objective
By combining atomic, nuclear and particle physics techniques, I shall perform the experimental study of the shape of key atomic nuclei, to challenge our understanding of the nucleus. This combined effort will reach unprecedented sensitivity, precision and accuracy to determine the shape observables (charge radii, electric quadrupole moments) and compare them to state-of-the-art nuclear models (spherical shell model, density functional theory, ab initio models based on chiral effective field theory).
This programme will combine different techniques at various accelerator facilities where I employ and develop unique approaches and instrumentation:
- At CERN ISOLDE (Geneva, CH), high-resolution laser resonance ionization spectroscopy will be performed with the Resonant Ionization Laser Ion Source (RILIS) combined with the Perpendicularly-Illuminated Laser Ion Source and Trap (PI-LIST) to study the onset of octupole deformation and proceed towards the proton drip line with selected nuclei.
- At GANIL SPIRAL2 (Caen, FR), high-sensitivity laser resonance ionization spectroscopy will be performed in the supersonic gas jet of the gas cell at the focal plane of the Super Separator Spectrometer (S3) to study the most exotic isotopes not available at ISOLDE, reaching proton-unbound nuclei at the drip line.
- At PSI (Villigen, CH), muonic x-ray spectroscopy will be performed on key isotopes to measure absolute charge radii that are crucial to complete the analysis of the NSHAPE isotopes. This work will combine a strong experimental development in target production for muX, in the detector array, and in the analysis tools.
Combining the high-resolution laser spectroscopy and the high-accuracy from μx-ray spectroscopy is a unique programme that only NSHAPE can fully realize, providing radii and moments with unprecedented accuracy. From those results, I shall obtain a deeper understanding of the strong interaction at work in the nuclear medium.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- natural sciences physical sciences theoretical physics particle physics
- natural sciences physical sciences nuclear physics
- natural sciences physical sciences optics laser physics
- natural sciences physical sciences optics spectroscopy
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Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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HORIZON.1.1 - European Research Council (ERC)
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Topic(s)
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Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
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Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-ERC - HORIZON ERC Grants
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Call for proposal
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Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) ERC-2022-COG
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
3000 LEUVEN
Belgium
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