Nuclear Astrophysics in the U - Science and Technology ... · Nuclear Astrophysics in the U.K Current Activities and Future Opportunities Alison Laird University of York

Nuclear Astrophysics in the U.KCurrent Activities and Future Opportunities

Alison LairdUniversity of York

In the beginning……

• Mainly Edinburgh group working at Louvain-la-Neuve

• Collaboration with other European groups e.g. Catania, Leuven,…

• Largely using silicon strip detectors (e.g. LEDA)

• Focussing on reactions relevant to explosive hydrogen burning in novae and X-ray bursters

Nuclear Astrophysics at TRIUMF/ISAC:the TUDA and DRAGON facilities

TUDA

DRAGON

DRAGON: Detector of Recoils And Gammas of Nuclear Reactions

• For radiative capture reactions - (p,γ), (α,γ)

• Recoil mass separator• Windowless gas target• Gamma array• End detectors – silicon

strip detector or ion chamber

Upcoming measurements at DRAGON

Reaction• 19Ne(p,γ)20Νa• 13N(p,γ)14Ο• 12C(α,γ)16Ο• 17F(p,γ)18Νe• 25Al(p,γ)26Si• 11C(p,γ)12N• 15O(α,γ)19Ne• 26m,gAl(p,γ)27Si

Motivation• HCNO breakout• CNO/HCNO• Carbon burning• 18F abundance• 26Al abundance• Hot pp-chains• HCNO breakout• 26Al abundance

13N 14N

15O

15N

14O

17F

18Ne

18F

19Ne

20Na

16O

21Na

20Ne

21Na

22Mg

22Na

23Mg

25Al

21Ne 22Ne

23Na

24Mg 25Mg

27Al26Al

27Si

13C12C

TUDA:the TRIUMF UK Detector Array

• Studying charged particle reactions, e.g (p,p’), (α,p), (d,p)

• Large area, high multiplicity silicon strip arrays – LEDA and CD

• Solid/gas targets• Up to 512 channels• Isolated chamber and

electronics to reduce noise

• VME DAQ

Approved measurements at TUDA

13N 14N

15O

15N

14O

17F

18Ne

18F

19Ne

20Na

16O

21Na

20Ne

21Na

22Mg

22Na

23Mg

25Al

21Ne 22Ne

23Na

24Mg 25Mg

27Al26Al

27Si

13C12C

• 18Ne(α,p)21Na HCNO breakout• 18Ne(d,p)19Ne(α)15O HCNO breakout• 17,18Ne(3He,p)19,20Na HCNO breakout• 18F(p,α)15O 18F abundance• 26Al(p,p’)26Al 26Al abundance• 14O(α,p)17F advanced HCNO• 15O(6Li,d)19Ne HCNO breakout

Reaction Motivation

ISAC II Timeline

• First beam of ~ 4 MeV/u within accelerator hall by end of 2005.

• Beam into experimental hall in summer 2006– First experiment still to be

decided

• High energy resonators to give 6-7 MeV/u should be ready towards end of 2007

ISAC/ISAC II beam development

• FEBIAD source – online tests during 2005• TRILIS laser source

– First experiment last year with 62Ga last year– 26Al beam with high power target this summer

• Present ECR used for Ne and N beams this summer though probably still low intensity

• New ECR purchased to upgrade OLIS• High power target (60-70 uA) to be used this

summer

Advanced detectors for ISAC II:TIGRESS

• NSERC granted funds for TIGRESS

• 16 HPGe detectors• 3 detectors by Feb 06 and

then 3 detectors/year up to 12

• First experiments in 2006• York and Surrey groups

collaborating with TIGRESS to provide zero degree Bragg detector and TIARA-type silicon barrel

Nuclear Astrophysics at Argonne

• Studies of key nuclear level properties – energies, widths, spins

• States populated via fusion evaporation – 12C(12C,n)23Mg– 12C(20Ne,n)31S

• Using Gammasphere and the FMA

DESPEC

• Implantation DSSD system for SuperFRS at GSI/FAIR

• Collaboration between Edinburgh/Liverpool/Daresbury/RAL

• Used to study decay properties of r-process nuclei

• Grant to be submitted in June

ISOLDE

• REX-ISOLDE– currently up to 3.2 MeV/u– upgrade to 4.3 MeV/u

planned– MINIBALL– variety of beam species

though low intensity

Available ISOLDE beamsBlue – only neutron richRed – only neutron deficient

ISOLDE has opportunities for nuclear astrophysics experiments but strong programme yet to develop. Similar situation exists for GANIL

UK Dark Matter research UK Dark Matter research -- UpdateUpdate

Science case stronger than everλCDM now vastly preferred modelMOND rejected through observation (but significant theoretical progress…)

UK Spending Review:PPARC does very badly (real terms 7% cut)Despite this, UKDM awarded £2M+ (4/2005–4/2007)Some focussing of activitiesNew PDRA at Edinburgh (~9/2005)

UKDM 2005-2007 Programme• ZEPLIN II

– Liquid Xenon– Ionisation and scintillation– Currently being deployed underground*– World’s best limit, published, in 18

months**• ZEPLIN III

– Liquid xenon– 2 phase, very advanced technology– Completion of construction, initial testing– Provides input for programme post 2007

• DRIFT II– Directional gas TPC– Modularised. D2A – deployed, working

fantastically– Additional D2B only.

* Friday! ** CDMS competition

ZEPLIN II

DRIFT II

Thanks to…..

The DRAGON collaborationThe TUDA collaboration

The Edinburgh groupThe York group