PhD project: Low energy reactions for quiescent stellar evolution
Project description
The investigation of low-energy nuclear reactions occurring during quiescent stages of stellar evolution often requires ad-hoc setups with intense beams of stable nuclei and long data acquisition times. Such studies are best performed at small university-based accelerator such as the 3MV Pelletron of the Center for Isotopic Research on the Cultural and Environmental heritage (CIRCE) at the Vanvitelli University of Caserta (Italy). As part of an ongoing collaboration, projects are available to investigate nuclear reactions that take place in the Sun as well as reactions (such as carbon burning) that are crucial for the understanding of the evolution and final fate of massive stars.
The student working on this project will have the opportunity to be involved in all the stages required for the measurement of a key low-energy nuclear reaction, including target preparation, experiment setup, beam tuning, data taking, data analysis and interpretation. The project is offered to a student with a strong academic background, a high degree of independence, and the aspiration to work within an international collaboration. Good data analysis and programming skills are desirable.
Project supervisor
- Professor Marialuisa Aliotta (School of Physics & Astronomy, University of Edinburgh)
The project supervisor welcomes 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.