Statistical Nuclear Astrophysics Studies at Stable and Radioactive Beam Facilities

Prof. Andrea Richard
Edwards Accelerator Laboratory
Ohio University

The origin of heavy elements in the universe is a longstanding question in nuclear astrophysics. The 2023 Long Range Plan for Nuclear Science poses the question, “What are the nuclear processes that drive the birth, life, and death of stars?” as one of the big questions we seek to answer over the next decade of nuclear science experiments, theories, and models. Since the birth of nuclear astrophysics in the 1950s, three main processes were thought to account for all of the heavy element abundances, namely the p, s, and r processes. While these three processes are strong contributors to the production of heavy elements, new observational data have shed light on additional processes that may have significant contributions to heavy element production in the cosmos. This talk will present the new intricate picture of heavy element production and the statistical nuclear physics properties that help us understand the origin of heavy elements in the universe using both stable and radioactive beam facilities.

Hosted by Prof. Simon-Robertson