PhD project: Nucleosynthesis Calculations
Project description
The synthesis of the chemical elements we see today in our cosmos happens through a variety of processes at different stellar sites, for example during stable burning phases, core collapse supernovae explosions, or merging stars. The experimental study of these reactions is indispensable to predict elemental abundances produced in a particular process and identifying the astrophysical sites responsible. The interpretation of these results relies on the use of powerful stellar evolution codes, which allow prediction of elemental abundances and connect these to observations, such as stellar spectra or abundances in meteoritic grains. This project involves using massively parallel nucleosynthesis codes to study the impact of new results for reaction rates or nuclear properties on elemental abundances produced in certain processes, as well as identifying key reaction rates that should be targeted in future experimental efforts.
Project supervisors
- Professor Alex Murphy (School of Physics & Astronomy, University of Edinburgh)
- Dr Claudia Lederer-Woods (School of Physics & Astronomy, University of Edinburgh)
The project supervisors welcome informal enquiries about this project.
Find out more about this research area
The links below summarise our research in the area(s) relevant to this project:
- Find out more about Nuclear Astrophysics.
- Find out more about Nuclear Physics.
- Find out more about the Institute for Particle and Nuclear Physics.
What next?
- Find out how to apply for our PhD degrees.
- Find out about fees and funding and studentship opportunities.
- View and complete the application form (on the main University website).
- Find out how to contact us for more information.