Electromagnetic ForceQED

Strong Force

QCD

Gravitational ForceGeneral Relativity

galaxy1021 m

matter10-1 m

crystal10-9 m

atom10-10 m

atomic nucleus10-14 m

electron

nucleon10-15 m

<10-18 m

quark

DNA10-8 m

quark-gluon plasma

The Physics of Nuclei Physics of Nuclei involves many diverse phenomena at vastly different scales, from elementary entities to stellar objects

Atomic nucleus: Atomic nucleus:

Z protons, N neutrons

Complex many-body system where three interactions (strong, weak and Coulomb forces) come into play

Very dense matter: 99.9% of atomic mass

(a tablespoon of nuclear matter would weigh as much as 3000 aircraft carriers)

THE ATOMIC NUCLEUS: core of matter, fuel of stars

Weak ForceStandard Model

The hierarchy of

decreasing dimensions:

from galaxies to quarks,

through the Earth,

molecules, atoms and

nuclei

THE ORIGIN OF NUCLEI: we are all made of stardust

tim

e15 billion years

1 billion years

300.000 years

3 minutes

1 thousandth of a second

After the Big Bang: quarks & gluons then hadrons then H & He [Li,Be]

Heavier elements:created in nuclear reactions in stars and in stellar explosions, going on ...

On Earth today:only stable nuclei very small fraction of all possible (Z,N) !!

We have a successful description of the nuclei

we know but … our understanding of the effective interaction in nuclei is limitedlimited and possibly flawede.g. little knownlittle known about the dependence with

asymmetry (N−Z)∕(N+Z)

THE ADVENT OF RADIOACTIVE ION BEAMS (RIB): ‘gene pool’ of nuclei on Earth brings a new era

production ofproduction of exotic nucleiexotic nuclei with very different N, Z numbers from with very different N, Z numbers from

the known isotopesthe known isotopes achieved with RIB facilitiesachieved 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), ...

Progress in accelerator

and detector technology

makes a bold leap forward

possible:

New phenomena observed physics of weakly bound quantum systems

Theorists served with an unprecedented wealth of datathat challenges the best of nuclear models!

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 datathat challenges the best of nuclear models!

● Goals for Nuclear Structure Theory:Identify/investigate many-body methods that will extend to

exotic nucleiGenerate improved effective interactionsMake reliable predictionsGuide experimental effortsPursue interdisciplinary overlaps (e.g., with astrophysics)

THE SCIENCE CASE OF EXOTIC NUCLEI: at the shores of the nuclear landscape

known nucleiknown nuclei

less than 300 stableless than 300 stable

terra incognitaterra incognita

THE SCIENCE CASE OF EXOTIC NUCLEI: at the shores of the nuclear landscape

neutron stars

Stable nuclei:

Unstable nuclei:

protons 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

Effective Field Theories

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

•InterdisciplinaryInterdisciplinary sciencescience. . Important for astrophysics and the events that shape the fate of the Cosmos in the core of stars

•This is Physics in ActionPhysics in Action: newest experiments reveal need for an improved many-body theory of the nucleus, which in turn can guide the experimental efforts

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

•InterdisciplinaryInterdisciplinary sciencescience. . Important for astrophysics and the events that shape the fate of the Cosmos in the core of stars

•This is Physics in ActionPhysics in Action: newest experiments reveal need for an improved many-body theory of the nucleus, which in turn can guide the experimental efforts

……ultimatelyultimately

‘Bringing Heavens Down to Earth’ !

Credits: this presentation uses pictures and figures taken from the

GSI and RIA links as well as from other websites which provide

information related to the fields of exotic nuclei and astrophysics.

Further information:

• http://www.gsi.de/GSI-Future/cdrhttp://www.gsi.de/zukunftsprojekt/index_e.html The GSI upgrade project

• http://www.orau.org/ria/ The RIA (Rare Isotope Accelerator) project