News
NSL hosts Boy Scout badge workshop
JINA-CEE has continued a successful initiative to help Boy Scouts earn their Nuclear Science Merit badges at ISNAP. 18 scouts attended a workshop on January 20th with their parents. Graduate student Bryce Frentz served as Merit Badge Counselor and was joined by two Notre Dame physics majors in leading the activities
Nuclear physics professor receives AAS Laboratory Astrophysics Prize
Every year, the American Astronomical Society (AAS) Laboratory Astrophysics Division awards a prize to an individual who has made significant contributions to laboratory astrophysics over the course of his or her career. The 2018 award went to Michael Wiescher, the Freimann Professor of Physics. He was recognized for his significant contributions to the experimental foundation of nuclear astrophysics, as well as his research that closes the gap between experiment and theory in the field.
Nuclear physics, the common ground in Cuba and Armenia for physics professor Aprahamian
During recent trips to Cuba and Armenia, Ani Aprahamian, Freimann Professor of Experimental Nuclear Physics, met both President Serzh Sargsyan of Armenia and Fidelito Castro, the son of the late and Cuban leader Fidel Castro, to talk about nuclear physics.
Two Department of Physics faculty honored with Media Legends Award
Physics professors Michael Wiescher and Dan Robertson both received a Media Legends Award from the Office of Media Relations for their work with the press that spotlighted academic excellence at the University of Notre Dame.
University of Michigan uses neutrons at Notre Dame to interrogate materials for nuclear nonproliferation studies
The University of Michigan's Applied Nuclear Science Group, led by Professor Igor Jovanovic, visited the University of Notre Dame last week to perform a series of experiments using the FN Tandem accelerator. The experiments centered around the acceleration of deuterons into a boron-11 target, which produces unique high-energy neutrons and gamma-rays. This reaction was in turn used as a mixed-particle interrogation source in conjunction with a variety of detection systems, including organic, inorganic, and semi-conductor detectors.
Aprahamian receives recognition from President of Armenia
Ani Aprahamian, the Frank M. Freimann Professor of Physics, and Yuri Oganessian, chairman of the international scientistic board of the Alikhanian National Science Laboratory met with the President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan on November 6. Aprahamian and Oganessian were invited to attend the World Conference in Yerevan. The Armenian President was highly appreciative of their continued contribution to physics and mathematics progression as well as educating the next generation of future scientists. To read the full article, please click here…
Physics professor Garg named AAAS Fellow
Umesh Garg, professor of experimental nuclear physics, has been named a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). Election as an AAAS Fellow is an honor bestowed upon AAAS members by their peers.
Aprahamian elected as Secretary of the International Union of Pure and Applied Physics Commission on Nuclear Physics
Ani Aprahamian, the Frank M. Freimann Professor of Physics, has been elected as Secretary to the International Union of Pure and Applied Physics (IUPAP) Commission on Nuclear Physics. She will serve from January 2018 through December 2020. IUPAP…
Notre Dame physics well-represented at DNP 2017
Notre Dame Physics was well-represented at the DNP 2017, which is the fall meeting of the Division of Nuclear Physics of the American Physical Society. Many physics majors, graduate students, postdoctoral researchers, and faculty members attended, as did multiple 2017 ND-REU participants from other universities. Prof. Anna Simon and Dr. Patrick O’Malley, postdoctoral research associate, acted as session chairs. Just a few of the attendees are pictured here.…
Chinese Academy of Sciences hosts JINA R-matrix workshop
As part of continued support for the JINA R-matrix code AZURE2, a workshop was held at the Institute of Modern Physics (Chinese Academy of Sciences) in Lanzhou, China from September 18th to 22nd. Dr. James deBoer presented lectures and tutorials that emphasized the practical use of the code.
FN Low-Energy injection beamline upgrade completed
The goal of this Major Research Instrumentation (MRI) grant was to modify the low energy injection system of the FN tandem electrostatic accelerator of the Nuclear Science Laboratory (NSL) at the University of Notre Dame (ND) to provide higher mass resolution necessary for improved isotopic selectivity at isotopic masses beyond sulfur and chlorine.
CASPAR featured in Notre Dame Magazine
CASPAR researchers Daniel Robertson and Michael Wiescher have been featured in the Autumn 2017 issue of the Notre Dame Magazine written by Dr. Kenneth Garcia '08 about his personal experience of going underground in the Homestake Mine of South Dakota where CASPAR is located. The online version of the article can be found here…
NSL Faculty Retreat held at Fernwood
The NSL faculty retreat for 2017 took place at Fernwood Botanical Garden in Niles, MI on August 26. The group discussed current issues and strategic short-term and long-range plans on scientific focuses and resources for the Nuclear Science Laboratory.…
Physics professor elected into Academy of Europe
Michael Wiescher, the Freimann Professor of Nuclear Physics and the director of the Nuclear Science Laboratory, has been elected into the Academia Europaea, the Academy of Europe, for a lifetime of outstanding achievements.
Matta Ph.D. Thesis published on Springer Theses
The Ph. D. thesis of Dr. James Matta, titled "Exotic Nuclear Excitations: The Transverse Wobbling Mode in 135Pr" has been published as a book by the well-known science publisher Springer under the "Springer Theses" series.
Physics professor awarded NSF grant to develop an ion trapping apparatus
Physicist Maxime Brodeur received a Major Research Instrumentation (MRI) grant from the National Science Foundation to conduct research on the Standard Model of physics at the University of Notre Dame’s Nuclear Science Laboratory.
CASPAR featured in WIRED magazine
The Compact Accelerator System for Performing Astrophysical Research (CASPAR) is featured in the science section of WIRED magazine.
Notre Dame team recognized for part in award winning research
The National Nuclear Security Administration's Office of International Nuclear Safeguards presented this year's Joule Award "in recognition of outstanding contributions made for transferring: 19F(α,n) Na Cross Section for Uranium Enrichment to international partners." The Versatile Array of Neutron Detectors at Low Energy, also known as VANDLE, array of plastic scintillators, developed with Stewardship Science Academic Alliances funds, was critical to the success of this project.
Opening ceremony for CASPAR takes place at SURF
The Compact Accelerator System for Performing Astrophysical Research (CASPAR) recently reached a huge milestone with the delivery of first beam to target. This marks a significant step in the creation and operation of the first U.S. deep underground accelerator laboratory.