Welcome to the UK Low-Energy
Nuclear Physics Homepage
The low-energy nuclear physics group operates the premier
accelerator laboratory in the United States for studies with
fast (MeV) neutrons. The absence of charge in the neutron allows the study of nuclear levels and
transitions in the most direct manner. In nuclear structure physics, through inelastic neutron
scattering, experiments yield energy thresholds for excited levels, excitations of the levels as a
function of energy, decay angular distributions, and lifetimes of levels in nuclei by avoiding the
feeding of excited states above the level of interest. These measurements lead to an
important tool for testing nuclear models, the transition strengths.
In addition, our facility allows the study of nuclear reactions for nuclear
astrophysics by measuring the cross-sections of interest; thus giving
insight into fundamental theories of cosmology. Cross sections for neutron-induced
reactions are also obtained for a variety of applications.
"T
he composition of matter as we see it today is the
product of nuclear reactions which have taken place
a long time ago in the stars or in star explosions, where
conditions prevailed which we simulate in a very
microscopic way within our accelerating machines.
Hence the material basis of the world in which we live is
a product of the laws of nuclear physics.
I cannot better illustrate the interconnection of all facts
of nature, the tightly woven net of the laws of physics,
than by pointing to the chart of abundances of elements
in our part of the universe. Each maximum and minimum
in the curve of abundances corresponds to some trait of
nuclear dynamics, here a closed shell, there a strong
neutron cross-section,or a low binding energy."
V.F.
Weisskopf
This site contains useful information of several types. You will find an overview
describing the function of the UK accelerator, along
with some examples of the research carried out by the group. For those
requiring more details, we have included links to some of our recent
papers
online. We hope you find this site useful.