ReseaRch Quality assuRance foR the futuRe a ... - Lund University

Panel 13 – PHYSICS / MATHEMATICS
other types of finite-size systems, such as cold atoms and quantum dots,
as well as in density functional theory. Several methods and ideas can
be transferred between the mentioned fields and the nuclear system
which constitutes another finite-size many-body system. This transfer of
knowledge is already going on, but mainly from nuclear physics to the
other fields. However, utilizing this knowledge transfer in both directions
may provide nuclear theorists in Lund with advantages in international
competitions, where one see a strong development in nuclear structure
theory with new ideas and concepts. One example is the American
initiative (involving more or less all strong American nuclear theorists) to
develop a universal nuclear energy density functional, where the goal is to
be able theoretically to describe and calculate ground-state properties one
order of magnitude better than is possible today. A focused effort from
the Lund side could here make important contributions.
2.5 Division of Nuclear Physics
2.5.1 Overall assessment: Very good
The Division of Nuclear Physics is divided into three rather small groups,
aerosol physics, applied nuclear physics and experimental nuclear physics.
While the two first groups are very focused on applied research, the latter
is involved in cutting-edge research areas within nuclear physics. The
interactions and synergies between the three groups are apparently not
so well established. The experimental nuclear physics group has good
connections to theoretical nuclear structure activities within the division
for mathematical physics. A more in-depth evaluation could maybe have
been able to shed more light on collaboration and network within the
various parts of nuclear physics and high energy physics. However, the
panel suggest that the university considers how more synergies between
the different activities could be obtained for instance by creating new
projects.
One such project is suggested concerning detector development for the
ESS and maybe also for the MAX IV projects. Large, efficient and fast
detectors for photons and neutrons have become the bottleneck at many
facilities and it has been shown to be as important to develop new detectors
as new accelerator beam physics. Hence it is strongly encouraged that
the division of nuclear physics could be a coherent effort to back the ESS
and MAX IV projects, but the projects have to be initiated very soon.
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