NSCL Graduate Student Brochure - National Superconducting ...

National Superconducting
Cyclotron Laboratory
at Michigan State University
2008
Graduate Studies

NSCL
Welcome
I have enjoyed working in nuclear science for most of
my life. It has been a fabulous journey and the field has
made enormous advances since my student days 40
years ago. Yet, nuclear science today seems more dynamic
and more interesting to me than it seemed then.
Breakthrough technologies will allow us to address important
questions that seemed out of reach even a decade
ago.
Konrad Gelbke, NSCL Director
• Largest university campus-based nuclear science
laboratory in the United States
• Training ground for 10% of all U.S. nuclear science
doctoral students
• Graduate program in nuclear physics ranked No. 2
by U.S. News and World Report
• NSCL graduate students complete their Ph.D.s 1.5
years faster than the national average
• World-leading facility for the production and study
of rare isotopes
• National Science Foundation-funded user facility,
with 700 users from 35 countries
• Opportunities for hands-on research and meaningful
scholarly collaboration
Many of these questions center around rare isotopes,
unstable nuclei that play an important if fleeting role in
the cosmos. For decades, inadequate knowledge of
important nuclear properties has limited understanding
of astrophysical processes that forge the elements
– and, hence, the atoms we and the visible world are
made of. However, thanks to technology developed at
NSCL and other world-leading laboratories, and investments
in more capable accelerator facilities, the next
generation of nuclear scientists will have at their disposal
an impressive arsenal of tools. The result will be pathbreaking
exploration of a large and so far unexplored
part of the nuclear landscape – the terra incognita of
rare isotopes – that will provide critical tests of our best
theories and shed light on the astrophysical processes
that formed the elements in our solar system.
NSCL and other labs around the world are developing
state-of-the-art tools for experimenters and theorists –
powerful accelerators, sensitive detectors, advanced
computer hardware and software – that will push the
bounds of basic science and, at the same time, provide
outstanding education and research opportunities
for graduate students and postdoctoral researchers.
Rare isotope research has important cross-disciplinary
linkages to other fields of science such as astrophysics,
biomedicine, national and international security,
energy, materials science and quantum information
processing.
In short, the future of nuclear science is bright, and
Michigan State University’s graduate program in nuclear
and accelerator science offers attractive prospects
for a future science career.
Konrad Gelbke, Director
02
www.nscl.msu.edu

NSCL
Table of Contents
02 Welcome
03 Table of Contents
04 Nuclear Science at MSU
05 Graduate Student Life
06 Lab Facilities
07 Lab History & Future Plans
08 Careers in Nuclear Science
09 Admissions
10 Faculty
11 Faculty Profiles
39 NSCL in the News
40 Michigan State University
42 Lansing Area
43 Maps
45 Useful Links
www.nscl.msu.edu
03

NSCL
Nuclear Science at MSU
To probe the mysteries of an atom’s nucleus
is to seek answers to some of the most fundamental
of questions about how the elements
were formed and what keeps nuclei together.
Nuclear science pursues these big questions
by colliding and examining the tiniest of particles.
In collisions at half the speed of light, new
isotopes are created in a billionth of a trillionth
of one second. To do this, scientists need particle
accelerators, state-of-the-art computers,
and specially designed equipment.
Research at NSCL concentrates on the study
of exotic nuclei, one of the current frontiers in
nuclear science. Compared to the more familiar
stable nuclei, these exotic nuclei have
large excesses of either protons or neutrons
and tend to decay quickly, sometimes within
fractions of seconds. Experimental groups use
the world leading capabilities of cyclotrons at
NSCL to produce exotic nuclei through fragmentation
of accelerated stable nuclei that
bombard a solid target. The exotic fragments
are transported to the experimental stations
within hundreds of nanoseconds, where a
wide range of experiments can be carried out
using state-of-the art equipment. Some experiments
determine the existence of a particular
nucleus for the first time, while others stop
the nuclei to study their decay or to measure
their mass. Yet other experiments
have the exotic nuclei bombard
another target and study the ensuing
nuclear reactions
revealing information
about the internal structure
of the nucleus, or the behavior of nuclear
matter during the extreme temperatures and
densities encountered in a nuclear collision.
Already such experiments have revealed
many surprising properties of exotic nuclei
and many more remain to be discovered.
NSCL theorists are working closely with experimentalists
to interpret these results and to
use exotic nuclei as probes to uncover hidden
aspects of the nuclear force that holds
together all atomic nuclei. Understanding this
force and building a nuclear theory that can
predict the properties of nuclei is one of the
ultimate goals in nuclear science.
Exotic nuclei also play an important role in astrophysics.
They are created in stellar explosions
such as X-ray bursts and supernovae, and
they might exist inside neutron stars. Often the
decays of exotic nuclei are intermediate steps
in the astrophysical processes that created the
elements in nature. Many NSCL groups work
at the intersection of nuclear physics and astrophysics
to address
open questions
raised
by astron
o m i c a l
observations
concerning
the
origin of the
elements, the nature of stellar explosions, and
the properties of neutron stars. This research
combines NSCL experiments, nuclear theory,
astrophysical models, and observations.
04
www.nscl.msu.edu

NSCL
Graduate Student Life
Graduate students at NSCL have outstanding
opportunities to do research at a national
laboratory located on the campus of a major
research university. The strong interaction
between the experimental and theoretical
scientists and the frequent visitors and users
of the facility creates an open and academically
stimulating atmosphere. NSCL is widely
recognized for its cutting-edge research in
nuclear science, nuclear astrophysics, accelerator
physics and engineering, as evidenced
by a large number of publications in highquality
refereed journals and invited talks at
national and international conferences. Most
graduate students are financially supported
with research assistantships when working on
thesis projects. Exceptional students can be
awarded an NSCL fellowship.
As the premier rare isotope
facility in the U.S.
for the next decade,
NSCL is a high national
priority, as expressed
in the number-one
recommendation in
the 2002 Long Range
Plan of the DOE/NSF
Nuclear Science Advisory
Committee. Experimental
and theoretical
insight gained at NSCL will be highly
relevant for the next generation rare isotope
facility.
Graduate students in experimental nuclear
science will be involved in all aspects of performing
an experiment at NSCL: writing a proposal
which will be reviewed by an external
Program Advisory Committee, designing the
experiment, setting up the hardware and electronics,
writing data acquisition and analysis
code, analyzing and interpreting the results,
and finally writing a manuscript for a peer-reviewed
journal. Theory students have access
to world experts
who frequently
visit the laboratory
and collaborate
closely
with local faculty.
The Joint
Institute for Nuclear
Astrophysics
offers the unique opportunity to work on
the interface between nuclear physics and
astrophysics.
Our graduate students routinely present their
new results at important national or international
conferences. This provides exposure to
senior colleagues and helps in finding new job
opportunities after graduation.
Graduate students take an active part in the
organization and daily business of NSCL, and
are represented on most laboratory committees.
NSCL graduate students administer
their own office space, furniture, and desktop
computers. The graduate students meet
weekly and organize their own seminar series.
They also contribute to many of
the outreach activities offered
through NSCL and participate in
the governance process
of the College of Natural
Science and the Council
of Graduate Students.
www.nscl.msu.edu
05

NSCL
Lab Facilities
Imagination, creativity and scientific knowledge
are the lifeblood of nuclear physics research,
but the equipment is the skeleton that
brings form and substance to science. NSCL
has been at the forefront of developing technology
that makes nuclear science a reality.
Beams of atomic nuclei are made in the ion
source and accelerated in the K500 and
K1200 cyclotrons. The rare isotopes, which are
our specialty,
are selected
by the A1900
fragment separator.
When the
beam of rare
isotopes hits
the target, the
reaction products
are measured with special detectors.
For example, the S800 spectrograph
can identify the exotic
fragments produced and
measure their energies. Protons
and light atomic nuclei are detected
in various charged particle
detectors, including the
high-resolution silicon strip detector
array HiRA. Neutrons are
studied with the
neutron emission
ratio observer NERO and
the modular neutron array
MoNA. Gamma-rays
are detected in the segmented
germanium array SeGA. The rare isotopes
can also be stopped and their properties
studied with the low energy beam ion trap
LEBIT or the beta counting system BCS.
NSCL has complete electronics and mechanical
engineering departments and a modern
machine shop equipped with a variety of
CNC machines capable of building complex
parts for experimental equipment.
If you need something for your research project,
the purchasing department at NSCL is
there to help. Purchasing approval, placement
of an order, and receiving are all handled
in-house – saving a lot of time.
Graduate students will work on personal desktop
computers and have access to the NSCL
linux clusters, as well as to MSU’s high performance
computing center. Students also benefit
from strong
National and
International
Collaborations,
for example
the
Joint Institute
for Nuclear
Astrophysics
(JINA), the
Mesoscopic
Theory Center (MTC), and the Exotic Femto
Systems Overseas Laboratory of the University
of Tokyo are located at NSCL. In addition,
NSCL theorists are members of the Universal
Nuclear Energy Density Functional (UNEDF)
SciDAC project, and the Center of Excellence
for Radioactive Ion Beam Studies for Stewardship
Science.
06
www.nscl.msu.edu

NSCL
Lab History & Future Plans
Nuclear physics research began at Michigan
State University in 1958. In the decades that
followed, MSU became known, both in the
United States and worldwide, for its innovations
in nuclear science and associated crossdisciplinary
research. Major contributions
have been made in the fields of nuclear structure,
nuclear astrophysics, heavy-ion reaction
mechanisms, accelerator physics, beam dynamics
and experimental techniques.
NSCL also is the source of innovations that improve
lives. A medical cyclotron built by the
laboratory in the 1980s was used to treat cancer
patients at Harper University Hospital in
Detroit for more than 15 years. More recently,
NSCL technology and design concepts were
used in a new, higher-powered medical cyclotron
built by Varian Medical Systems. The
collaboration agreement, an example of
technology transfer that returns benefits to
the university, will bring
more advanced nuclear
therapy to cancer
patients in several
countries.
Over the years, NSCL
has evolved into the
largest campus-based
nuclear science facility
in the country. Today,
the laboratory
has 300 employees, including 28 faculty and
about 100 students, half of them in doctoral
programs. MSU awards approximately 10 percent
of the nation’s nuclear science doctorates
and, according to U.S. News & World Report,
is ranked second to MIT in nuclear physics
graduate education. The laboratory also offers
several programs designed to give undergraduates
meaningful, hand-on research
experiences. Several dozen undergrads participate
in such programs annually.
In December 2006, NSCL released plans for the
Isotope Science Facility, a capability upgrade
that would provide the nuclear science re-
search community
with
significantly
i n c r e a s e d
i n t e n s i t i e s
and varieties
of worldclass
beams
of rare isotopes
well into the 21 st century. Top administrators
from the laboratory and university are
continuing to work with the science community,
lawmakers and senior officials at federal
agencies to make the case for the laboratory
upgrade — a logical continuation of decades
of research and education accomplishments
by NSCL faculty, students and users.
Meanwhile, in ongoing day-to-day operations,
NSCL is laying the groundwork for a future in
which it serves the anticipated requirements
of the U.S. rare isotope research community;
extends the frontiers of nuclear science;
and enhances the nation’s
workforce as it trains the next generation
of science and
technology professionals.
www.nscl.msu.edu
07

NSCL
Careers in Nuclear Science
Your success as a graduate student is important
to us. Our graduates are in high demand,
and they are the best testimony to the quality
of our highly ranked graduate education
program.
As a nuclear or accelerator physicist, engineer,
or nuclear chemist educated at NSCL,
you are well positioned to pursue a variety
of career paths. You are expertly trained to
do research in a university,
at a national
laboratory, or in an
industrial setting. You
are well qualified to
teach in a small college
or a large university.
You can pursue
science policy or
specialize in business.
You can work for the
U.S. Patent Office or
on Wall Street or at
Mayo Clinic. If you are not sure which direction
to take, we have a large network of NSCL
alumni who will gladly speak with you about
their professions.
NSCL graduates now occupy many important
positions in universities, national laboratories,
and the private sector, making
valuable contributions to society
in many different areas. For example,
recent NSCL
graduates now work on
cancer therapy, airport
Career Placement
of NSCL Ph.D.s
1996-2007
anti-terrorist safety, environmental protection,
weapons safeguards, national security, nuclear
fusion, and radiation safety of space travel.
Others have chosen careers where they apply
their problem solving and goal-oriented
team-work skills in diverse areas of the economy,
including car manufacturing, electronics,
computing, and finance.
The Statistical Research Center of the American
Institute of Physics disseminates data on
education and employment in physics and
related fields. For example, the center publishes
reports on common career paths, workforce
dynamics, and salaries and employment
prospects. The reports and additional
statistical data can be found at:
http://www.aip.org/statistics/
08
www.nscl.msu.edu

NSCL
Admissions
NSCL is committed to
providing the highest
quality graduate education
in nuclear science,
nuclear astrophysics,
accelerator physics,
and related instrumentation
technologies. The
degree requirements
and curricula differ, depending
on whether you
matriculate in the Department
of Chemistry,
Department of Physics & Astronomy, or the
College of Engineering. We refer you to the
corresponding departments for application
procedures and admission, course and degree
requirements.
Based on your background, the Graduate
Advisors in each department will put together
an individual curriculum for you. Students accepted
into the graduate program at NSCL
receive teaching or research assistantships.
At NSCL, your first contact
point is the Associate
Director for Education
who will discuss
with you the various
options and opportunities
for research topics.
He will continue to
serve as contact between
you, NSCL and
your respective department
for the duration
of your thesis studies.
member. NSCL faculty
can serve as the direct
thesis supervisor as they
have either joint or adjunct
appointments
at one of the departments.
The research
environment at NSCL
is very collaborative
and the connection
between individual research
groups is very
strong. For example,
within a collaboration a professor in the Department
of Physics & Astronomy can supervise
a chemistry student and vice versa.
After you choose your area of research you
will form your guidance committee which will
meet with you at least once a year to ensure
a satisfactory progress towards your degree.
All NSCL graduate students actively participate
in Research Discussion, Nuclear Seminars,
Departmental Colloquia, and the daily
laboratory business. Essential to a doctoral
degree is that you develop and then demonstrate
the ability to conduct vital, independent
research. To become an independent
researcher you will need to develop a set of
proficiencies. After you advance
to Ph.D. candidacy it usually takes
two to four years to complete the
original research that
forms the basis for your
dissertation.
Graduate students at NSCL will perform their
research under the guidance of a faculty
www.nscl.msu.edu
09

NSCL
Faculty
Wolfgang Bauer
Theoretical Nuclear Physics
Abigail Bickley
Nuclear Chemistry
Scott Bogner
Theoretical Nuclear Physics
Georg Bollen
Experimental Nuclear Physics
Alex Brown
Theoretical Nuclear Physics
Edward Brown
Theoretical Nuclear Astrophysics
Pawel Danielewicz
Theoretical Nuclear Physics
Marc Doleans
Accelerator Physics & Engineering
Alexandra Gade
Experimental Nuclear Physics
Thomas Glasmacher
Experimental Nuclear Physics
Bill Lynch
Experimental Nuclear Physics
Paul Mantica
Nuclear Chemistry
Felix Marti
Accelerator Physics & Engineering
Wolfgang Mittig
Experimental Nuclear Physics
Dave Morrissey
Nuclear Chemistry
Filomena Nunes
Theoretical Nuclear Physics
Hendrik Schatz
Experimental Nuclear Astrophysics
Brad Sherrill
Experimental Nuclear Physics
Krzysztof Starosta
Experimental Nuclear Physics
Andreas Stolz
Experimental Nuclear Physics
Michael Thoennessen
Experimental Nuclear Physics
Betty Tsang
Experimental Nuclear Physics
John Vincent
Accelerator Physics & Engineering
Thomas Wangler
Accelerator Physics & Engineering
Gary Westfall
Experimental Nuclear Physics
Richard York
Accelerator Physics & Engineering
Remco Zegers
Experimental Nuclear Physics
Vladimir Zelevinsky
Theoretical Nuclear Physics
10
www.nscl.msu.edu

Wolfgang Bauer
University Distinguished Professor and
Chairperson, Department of Physics and Astronomy
Theoretical Nuclear Physics
Selected Publications
M.S., Physics,
University Giessen,
1985
PhD, Physics,
University Giessen,
1987
Joined NSCL
in October 1988
bauer@pa.msu.edu
Zipf’s Law in Nuclear Multifragmentation
and Percolation Theory, K. Paech, W. Bauer,
and S. Pratt, Phys. Rev. C 76, 054603 (2007)
The Nuclear and Many-Body Physics of Supernova
Explosions, T. Strother and W. Bauer,
Int. J. Mod. Phys. E 16, 1073 (2007)
Fragmentation and the Nuclear Equation
of State, W. Bauer, Nucl. Phys. A787, 595c
(2007)
Cancer Detection on a Cell-by-Cell Basis Using
a Fractal Dimension Analysis, W. Bauer
and Ch.D. Mackenzie, Heavy Ion Physics 14,
39 (2001)
Common Aspects of Phase Transitions of
Molecules, Nuclei, and Hadronic Matter, W.
Bauer, Nucl. Phys. A681, 441 (2001)
I am a theoretical physicist and work mainly on phase
transitions in nuclear systems, on transport theory for
heavy ion collisions, and on the determination of the
nuclear equation of state. Much of my work is in close
connection with experimentally accessible observables,
and I have enjoyed many collaborations with
my experimental colleagues from NSCL and around
the world. Approximately one half of my roughly 120
publications in peer-reviewed journals are collaborations
with experimentalists.
During the last few years I have found out that many
advances in one particular field of science can be
applied in an interdisciplinary way. One
example is my application of algorithms
developed in my work on nuclear fragmentation
to the detection of cancer
cells in human bodies. Another example
is the application of our methods to solve
the transport problem for heavy ion collisions
to the dynamics of supernova explosions.
This project is still ongoing and first
results look very promising.
I have also worked on chaos, non-linear
dynamics, and self-organized criticality.
All of these areas of study have applications
to nuclear physics, but also to a great
range of other systems, from molecules to
traffic flow, and from the stock market to
the weather.
Finally, I am interested in research on teaching and
learning. Here I have a long-standing collaboration
that has produced the LON-CAPA course management
and learning system, which is now in use at over
NSCL
100 universities, colleges, and high schools around
the country and in several other countries around the
world.
For the near future I am planning on a continuation of
the work on nuclear fragmentation, as well as the transport
problem for supernova explosions. In addition, I
have become interested in the physics of double β decay
and the hunt for a neutrino-less double-β decay
mode, which would overthrow the standard model of
particle physics. I am also continuing my practice of
tight collaborations with my experimental colleagues
at NSCL, by working on the physics case for a time projection
chamber experiment for the next upgrade of
the accelerator complex at NSCL.
Using transport theories and models of phase transitions
to determine the nuclear matter phase diagram.
www.nscl.msu.edu
11

d Rapidiare
et al.,
32002.
mentum,
N) = 200
Rev. Lett.
y for the
3, 285.
r Midra-
GeV, B.B.
CHEMISTRY RESEARCH FACULTY
ransverse
sqrt(s_
Rev. Lett.
le to Parlisions
at
Rev. C70
propperatween
nd the
tate of
ces red
neuict
the
ental
nergy.
16
Abigail A. Bickley
ASSISTANT
PROFESSOR
(b. 1978)
B.A., 2000,
Dartmouth College;
Ph.D., 2004, University of
Maryland, College Park;
Research Associate,
University of Colorado
at Boulder, 2004-07.
517-355-9672
Ext. 480
Nuclear Equation of State
SELECTED PUBLICATIONS
J/Psi Production vs. Transverse Momentum and Rapidity
in p+p Collisions at sqrt(s) = 200 GeV, A. Adare et al.,
” hep-ex/0611020, Phys. Rev. Lett. 2007, 98, 232002.
J/Psi Production vs. Centrality, Transverse Momentum,
and Rapidity in Au+Au Collisions at sqrt(s_NN) = 200
GeV, A. Adare, et al., nucl-ex/0611020, Phys. Rev. Lett.
2007, 98, 232201.
Quarkonium Production in PHENIX, A. Bickley for the
PHENIX Collaboration, Nucl. Phys. 2007, A783, 285.
Charged Antiparticle to Particle Ratios Near Midrapidity
in p+p Collisions at sqrt(s_NN) = 200 GeV, B.B.
Back, et al., Phys. Rev. C71 2005, 021901(R).
Centrality Dependence of Charged Hadron Transverse
Momentum Spectra in Au+Au Collisions from sqrt(s_
Selected Publications
J/Psi Production vs. Transverse Momentum
and Rapidity in p+p Collisions at √(s)
= 200 GeV, A. Adare et al., Phys. Rev.
Lett. 98, 232002 (2007)
J/Psi Production vs. Centrality, Transverse
Momentum, and Rapidity in Au+Au Collisions
at √(sNN) = 200 GeV, A. Adare et
al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 98, 232201 (2007)
Quarkonium Production in PHENIX, A.
Bickley for the PHENIX Collaboration,
Nucl. Phys. A783, 285 (2007)
Charged Antiparticle to Particle Ratios
Near Midrapidity in p+p Collisions at
√(sNN) = 200 GeV, B.B. Back et al., Phys.
Rev. C 71 021901(R) (2005)
Centrality Dependence of Charged
Hadron Transverse Momentum Spectra
in Au+Au Collisions from √(sNN) = 62.4 to
200 GeV, B.B. Back et al., Phys. Rev. Lett.
94, 082304 (2005)
Abigail Bickley
Assistant Professor
Nuclear Chemistry
Nuclear Equation of State
B.A., Chemistry,
Dartmouth College,
2000
PhD, Nuclear Chemistry,
University of Maryland,
2004
Joined NSCL
in May 2007
bickley@nscl.msu.edu
In the laboratory setting,
My research interests revolve NN) = 62.4
collisions
around to 200 GeV,
of
B.B.
heavy
studying Back et al.,
nuclei
the Phys. prop- Rev.
allow
Lett. try energy. In the laboratory setting, collisions of heavy
the density of the system 2005, to be 94, 082304. controlled and provide a window
through
erties of nuclear
which
matter
we can
over
observe
a wide
the
range
properties
of temperaof
the nucleus.
and The energy particles densities. produced
nuclei allow the density of the system to be controlled
Centrality Dependence of Charged Antiparticle to Particle
Ratios
tures in The the
Near relationship collision
Mid-Rapidity
of asymmetric
in between d+Au Collisions the nuclei
provide constraints our understanding of the symmetry the properties of the nucleus. The particles produced
at and provide a window through which we can observe
environmental conditions
sqrt(s_NN)
a nucleus
= 200 GeV,
is
B.B.
subjected
Back et al., Phys.
to
Rev.
and
C70
2004, 011901(R).
the properties it exhibits is governed energy by term the of equation the nuclear of in the collision of asymmetric nuclei provide constraints
state of nuclear matter. The equation of of state. This not serves only on our understanding of the symmetry energy term of
characterizes the properties of to nuclear further our matter, understanding but also the nuclear equation of state. This serves to further our
provides a mathematical relationship of the properties between of the neutronrich
characterize nuclei, which nuclei. dominate which dominate the chart of the known nuclides.
thermodynamic
variables used to
understanding of the properties of neutron-rich nuclei,
the chart of the known nuclides.
My
This relationship
research
governs
interests revolve
the physical
around Collisions studying
characteristics
of heavy the properties
of nuclear matter over are performed a wide range and of observed tempera-
the density of the system to be controlled and provide a win-
ions
Collisions
In the
of
laboratory
heavy ions
setting,
are
collisions
performed
of heavy
and
nuclei
observed
allow
at
and behavior
tures and
of nuclear
energy densities.
matter as it existed in the early
at the The relationship National Superconducting
terrestrial is Cyclotron subjected nuclear Laborato-
and mat-
the cleus. opportunity The particles for studying produced the in the symmetry collision of energy asymmetric through nu-
between dow
NSCL.
through
The facilities
which we
available
can observe
at
the
NSCL
properties
provide
of
a
the
unique
nu-
universe, the environmental in neutron conditions stars, and a nucleus
ter. properties Within it a exhibits nucleus, is governed the ry by (NSCL), the equation which is of adjacent state of clei provide constraints on our understanding the collision of the symmetry of isospin
energy nuclear per matter. nucleon The equation receives
of state contributions not only characterizes from ment. The facilities available
equation due to of state. the wide This serves variety
to the Chemistry Depart-
energy asymmetric term of the heavy nuclear ions
the the energy properties of of symmetric nuclear matter,
but matter also provides and a a cor-
math-
opportunity for studying the
of the targets properties available. of neutron-
These
at the NSCL provide a unique
to further of primary our understanding beams and
nuclear
rection ematical term relationship related to between the symmetry energy through
rich capabilities nuclei, which allow dominate constraints
to be made to
neutron-proton
the thermodynamic
asymmetry
known as the symme-
variables the collision of isospin asymmetric
heavy ions due to the
clides. Collisions of heavy ions
the chart of the known nu-
used to characterize nuclei. This
relationship governs the physical
characteristics targets available. and These behavior capabilities allow constraints to be
at of the state National that are Supercon-
vital to
wide variety of primary beams
are
the
performed
nuclear
and observed
equation
try energy. The asymmetry
and
correction
made of nuclear to the matter nuclear
accounts as equation it existed for
of state that are vital to the advancement
in the differences early of universe, understanding resulting
neutron of astrophysical processes related
ry (NSCL), understanding which is adjacent of astroducting
the Cyclotron advancement Laborato-of
isospin
from to stars, neutron and inequality stars terrestrial and supernova in nuclear the explosions and to the understanding
matter. of Within of nuclear protons a nucleus, structure and the away from the valley of stability.
ment. ed The to neutron facilities available stars and
to physical the Chemistry processes Depart-
relat-
numbers
neutrons energy per in the nucleon nucleus. receives
at the supernova NSCL provide explosions a unique
contributions from the energy
opportunity and to the for studying understanding
of nuclear
the
In of order symmetric to understand
nuclear matter
symmetry energy through
structure
and a correction term related to
the collision of isospin asymmetric
heavy ions due to the
and predict the behavior
away from the valley of
the neutron-proton asymmetry
of
known
nuclear
as the
matter
symmetry
exposed
energy.
wide stability. variety of primary beams
to The different asymmetry environmental Chart of the known nuclides plotted as a function of the number of
correction accounts neutrons for isospin versus the differences number of resulting
from it an is inequality important in the numbers resent the of stability protons of each and neu-
nucleus made and are to the described nuclear in equation the key. of state that are vital to the ad-
protons and in targets the nucleus. available. The These colors capabilities rep-
allow constraints to be
conditions,
to trons constrain the nucleus. the symme- In order to understand and predict the vancement of understanding of astrophysical processes related
behavior of nuclear matter exposed to different environmental to neutron stars and supernova explosions and to the understanding
of nuclear structure away from the valley of conditions, it is important to constrain the symmetry energy.
stability.
12 bickley@chemistry.msu.edu
www.nscl.msu.edu
NSCL

Scott Bogner
Assistant Professor
Theoretical Nuclear Physics
B.S., Nuclear Engineering,
University of Cincinnati,
1996
PhD, Theoretical Physics,
SUNY Stony Brook,
2002
Joined NSCL
in July 2007
bogner@nscl.msu.edu
Selected Publications
Convergence in the no-core shell model
with low-momentum two-nucleon interactions.
S.K. Bogner, R.J. Furnstahl, P. Maris,
R.J. Perry and J.P. Vary, to appear in Nucl.
Phys. A
Are low-energy nuclear observables sensitive
to high-energy phase shifts? S.K. Bogner,
R.J. Furnstahl, R.J. Perry and A. Schwenk,
Phys. Lett. B 649, 488 (2007)
Similarity renormalization group for nucleon-nucleon
interactions. S.K. Bogner, R.J.
Furnstahl and R.J. Perry, Phys. Rev. C 75,
061001(R) (2007)
Is nuclear matter perturbative with lowmomentum
interactions? S.K. Bogner, A.
Schwenk, R. J. Furnstahl and A. Nogga,
Nucl. Phys. A763, 59 (2005)
Model-independent low momentum nucleon
interaction from phase shift equivalence,
S.K. Bogner, T.T.S. Kuo and A. Schwenk,
Phys. Rep. 386, 1 (2003)
My research focuses on applications of the renormalization
group (RG) and effective field theories (EFT) to
the microscopic description of nuclei and nuclear matter.
The ultimate goal is to develop theoretical methods
that generate model-independent predictions with reliable
theoretical error estimates. Such capabilities will
be necessary to confront fundamental problems of
low-energy nuclear physics, such as the physics of nuclei
far from stability, where controlled extrapolations to
extreme N/Z ratios are essential but have been lacking
in theoretical approaches to date. The development
of such methods will be essential to provide reliable nuclear
physics input for astrophysical applications and
to provide meaningful theoretical support to existing
and next-generation rare isotope beam facilities such
as those at NSCL.
EFT and RG methods have long enjoyed a prominent
role in condensed matter and high energy theory due
to their power of simplification and universality. More
recently, these complementary techniques have
launched a paradigm shift in theoretical low-energy
Ground-State Energy [MeV]
−5
−10
−15
−20
−25
−30
−10
−15
−20
−25
λ = 3.0 fm −1
N
3 LO (500 MeV)
−30
20 25 30 35 40
h∨ [MeV]
NSCL
λ = 1.5 fm −1
λ = 2.0 fm −1
4
He
N max = 2
N max = 4
N max = 6
N max = 8
N max = 10
N max = 12
10 15 20 25 30
h∨ [MeV]
Figure illustrating
the accelerated
convergence
using
RG-improved
interactions in
no-core shell
model (NCSM)
calculations of
4 He.
nuclear physics, enabling for the first time the prospect
for model-independent and microscopic calculations
of nuclear structure with controllable theoretical errors,
within a framework that is manifestly constrained by the
symmetries of the underlying quantum chromodynamics
(QCD). From a computational perspective, the use
of EFT and RG techniques makes practical calculations
more tractable by restricting the necessary degrees of
freedom to the energy scales of interest.
A consequence is that microscopic nuclear structure
calculations become much more amenable to
straightforward perturbative methods, simple (i.e., less
correlated) variational ansätze, and rapidly convergent
basis expansions. Since a mean field description
(e.g., Hartree-Fock) now becomes a reasonable starting
point for nuclei and nuclear matter, the large arsenal
of techniques developed for non-uniform electronic
systems (e.g., density functional methods) become
available for nuclei. Density functional theory (DFT) is
the ideal framework to describe properties of the medium-to-heavy
regions of the nuclear mass table where
ab-initio methods are computationally prohibitive. Developing
a microscopically-based, universal nuclear
energy density functional (UNEDF) derived from RGimproved
EFT Hamiltonians is a major component of
the 5 year, $15M SciDAC project Building a Universal
Nuclear Energy Density Functional that I am a part of,
along with my MSU colleague Alex Brown. My research
program presents a diverse range of research opportunities
for potential Ph.D. students, encompassing three
very different (but interrelated) components that offer
a balance of analytical and numerical work: 1) internucleon
interactions, 2) ab-initio methods for finite nuclei
and infinite nuclear matter, and 3) density functional
theory for nuclei.
www.nscl.msu.edu
13

Georg Bollen
Professor
Experimental Nuclear Physics
Selected Publications
Precision mass measurements of rare isotopes
near N=Z=33 produced by fast beam
fragmentation, P. Schury et al., Phys. Rev. C
75, 055801 (2007)
Octupolar excitation of ion motion in a Penning
trap - A study performed at LEBIT, R.
Ringle, G. Bollen, P. Schury, S. Schwarz, and
T. Sun, Int. J. Mass Spec. 262, 33 (2007)
Experiments with Thermalized Rare Isotope
Beams from Projectile Fragmentation - A
Precision Mass Measurement of the Super-
Allowed β-emitter 38 Ca, G. Bollen et al., Phys.
Rev. Lett. 96, 152501 (2006)
A study of gas-stopping of intense energetic
rare isotope beams, G. Bollen, D.J. Morrissey,
S. Schwarz, Nucl. Instr. Meth. A550, 27 (2005)
Traps for Rare Isotopes. Georg Bollen, Lecture
Notes in Physics 651, 169 (2004)
M.S., Physics,
Mainz University,
1984
PhD, Physics,
Mainz University,
1989
Joined NSCL
in June 2000
bollen@nscl.msu.edu
My research interests are related to nuclear and atomic
physics with focus on the study of basic properties of
atomic nuclei very far away from the valley of stability.
A major activity in my group is the determination of the
mass of such rare isotopes, which is their most fundamental
property. An accurate knowledge of atomic
masses is important for revealing the inner structure of
exotic nuclei and to provide crucial tests for nuclear
model predictions. Atomic masses are one of the key
information required for the description of the synthesis
of the elements in the universe. Certain special nuclei
are important for testing our understanding of symmetries
and the fundamental forces in nature; their masses
need to be determined with an accuracy of 10 parts
per billion or better. Such high-precision mass measurements
have become possible at NSCL with the Low Energy
Beam and Ion Trap facility, or LEBIT. In LEBIT, the
movement of the rare isotopes delivered by the Coupled
Cyclotron Facility is slowed down from half the
speed of light to the point at which they can be kept
floating in a vacuum in a device called an ion trap.
Here their mass can be determined with very high precision
via the observation of their cyclotron motion in a
strong 9.4 Tesla magnetic field. LEBIT, in operation since
2005, has started its mass measurement program very
successfully; rare isotopes with half-lives of less than 100
ms have been captured and studied and mass accuracies
below 10 -8 have been reached.
In addition to determining their mass I am interested in
atomic spectroscopy of rare isotopes using lasers. This,
for example, can provide information on the size and
shape of the atomic nucleus. My group is involved in
the on-going realization of such a laser spectroscopy
facility at NSCL.
Another research area is the development of advanced
manipulation techniques for rare isotope
beams. Developments of that kind are critical for maximizing
the performance of experiments and for creating
new experimental opportunities for the study of rare
isotopes. My group is working on techniques that allow
fast rare isotope beams to be slowed down and converted
into low-energy beams efficiently and fast, on
beam-cooling and bunching techniques, and on the
development of a device that increases the charge
state of ions. Such a charge breeder is a key component
of the re-accelerator project presently underway
at NSCL, which will provide rare isotope beams that are
world-unique and add a new and exciting component
to the strong research program of NSCL.
The LEBIT ion trap: shown are the gold-plated high-precision electrodes
that provide the electric fields needed for capturing and storing
rare isotope ions in the 9.4 T field of the LEBIT Penning trap mass
spectrometer.
14 www.nscl.msu.edu
NSCL

Alex Brown
Professor
Theoretical Nuclear Physics
B.A., Physics,
Ohio State University,
1970
M.S., Physics,
SUNY Stony Brook,
1972
PhD, Physics,
SUNY Stony Brook,
1974
Joined NSCL
in January 1982
brown@nscl.msu.edu
Selected Publications
New USD Hamiltonians for the sd Shell,
B.A. Brown and W.A. Richter, Phys. Rev.
C 74, 034315 (2006)
Tensor Interaction Contributions to
Single-Particle Energies, B.A. Brown, T.
Duguet, T. Otsuka, D. Abe and T. Suzuki,
Phys. Rev. C 74, 061303(R) (2006)
Magic Numbers in Neutron-Rich Oxygen
Isotopes, B.A. Brown and W.A. Richter,
Phys. Rev. C 72, 057301 (2005)
The Nuclear Shell Model Towards the
Drip Lines, B.A. Brown, Prog. Part. Nucl.
Phys. 47, 517 (2001)
Neutron Radii in Nuclei and the Neutron
Equation of State, B.A. Brown, Phys. Rev.
Lett. 85, 5296 (2000)
My research in theoretical nuclear physics is motivated
by broad questions in science: What are the fundamental
particles of matter? What are the fundamental
forces and their symmetries that govern their interactions?
How were the elements formed during the evolution
of the Universe? How do the simplicities observed
in many-body systems emerge from their underlying
microscopic properties?
The diverse activities
within our nuclear theory
group, coupled with
the forefront experimental
work in nuclear
structure, nuclear reactions
and nuclear astrophysics
at NSCL provide
the perfect environment
for the development
of new theoretical
ideas. I also have
collaborations with
theoretical and experimental
groups in many
countries including Germany,
France, England,
Italy, Norway, Japan
and South Africa.
I pursue the development of new analytical and computational
tools for the description of nuclear structure,
especially for nuclei far from stability. The basic theoretical
tools include the configuration-interaction and
energy-density functional methods. I work with collaborators
to developed software for desktop computing
as well for high-performance computing.
Specific topics of interest
include: the structure of
light nuclei, nuclei near
the driplines, di-proton
decay, proton and neutron
densities, double β
decay, tests of unitarity
from Fermi β-decay,
isospin non-conservation,
anapole moments and
parity non-conservation,
neutrino-nucleus interactions,
quantum chaos and
the rapid-proton capture
process in astrophysics.
NSCL
www.nscl.msu.edu
15

Selected Publications
First Superburst from a Classical Low-mass
X-ray Binary Transient. L. Keek et al., Astron.
Astrophys., in press (2008)
Phase Separation in the Crust of Accreting
Neutron Stars, C.J. Horowitz, D.K. Berry, and
E.F. Brown, Phys. Rev. E 75, 066101 (2007)
Heating in the Accreted Neutron Star
Ocean: Implications for Superburst Ignition,
S.S. Gupta, et al., Astrophys. J. 662, 1188
(2007)
The Laminar Flame Speedup by Neon-22
Enrichment in White Dwarf Supernovae,
D.A. Chamulak, E. F. Brown, and F.X. Timmes.
Astrophys. J. Lett. 655, L93 (2007)
Sedimentation and Type I X-ray Bursts at Low
Accretion Rates, F. Peng, E.F. Brown, and
J.W. Truran, Astrophys. J. 654, 1022 (2007)
Superburst Ignition and Implications for Neutron
Star Interiors, E.F. Brown, Astrophys. J.
Lett. 614, L57 (2004)
Edward Brown
Assistant Professor
Theoretical Nuclear Astrophysics
M.S., Physics,
University of California,
1996
PhD, Physics,
University of California,
1999
Joined NSCL
in August 2004
browne@nscl.msu.edu
High-energy and nuclear astrophysics are truly in a
golden period. I conduct theoretical research in the
exciting area of compact stars,neutron stars and white
dwarfs. Neutron stars are the most dense objects in nature,
and have long fascinated astronomers and physicists
alike. With X-ray telescopes such as Chandra and
XMM to study these objects, nuclear experiments such
as heavy-ion collisions to study the nuclear force, and
the promise of gravitational wave detectors such as
LIGO, our knowledge of these enigmatic objects and
the nature of dense matter is rapidly improving. Many
neutron stars accrete gas from a binary, solar-like companion.
As this gas accumulates on the surface of the
neutron star, unstable nuclear reactions produce bursts
of X-rays.
a lattice in the neutron star crust. A surprise from these
simulations is that the “ashes” of these bursts chemically
separate as they are compressed to high densities.
In an exciting new development, a superburst was
detected from an intermittently, or transient, accreting
neutron star. Because the crust cools when the neutron
star star is not accreting, it was previously thought that
superbursts could not occur in this system, because the
temperature in the crust would be too cool for carbon-12
fusion to occur.
0.6 t = 0 d
0.5
t = 80 d
New observations of these nuclear processes provide
clues about the properties of superdense matter, but
these observations also challenge our understanding
of how the fuel is accreted and burned. Particularly
exciting are the recently discovered “superbursts,” energetic
explosions that are believed to be powered by
unstable fusion of carbon-12. The “crust” of the neutron
star, where the density is less than nuclear, must be sufficiently
hot in order for the superburst to ignite. By studying
these superbursts we can learn about the physics of
the core, which cools by emitting neutrinos.
Recently, I have collaborated on the first calculation
of electron captures in the crust of an accreting neutron
star using realistic nuclear physics input, and have
investigated the “sinking” of heavy nuclei in the outer
layers. These calculations quantified the heating of the
neutron star from these reactions, and the results have
been used in simulations of the “freezing” of ions into
8 10 12 14 16 18
lg y (g cm − 2 )
16 www.nscl.msu.edu
NSCL
T (GK)
0.4
0.3
0.2
surface
Cutaway of an accreting neutron
star, with a recent calculation of
the temperature across the crust
shown in the inset plot. The calculation
was for a neutron star that
accretes intermittently. Some 80 days after it started accreting, an
energetic explosion was observed. The plot shows the temperature,
as a function of depth in the crust, when accretion began (solid
line) and at the time of the superburst (dotted line.) In order for the
superburst to have ignited, the temperature in the crust as a function
of depth should pass through the red rectangle. The fact that it
doesn’t suggests that another source of heating must be present in
the crust.
core

Pawel Danielewicz
Professor
Theoretical Nuclear Physics
Selected Publications
M.S., Physics,
Warsaw University,
1977
PhD, Physics,
Warsaw University,
1981
Joined NSCL
in September 1988
danielewicz@nscl.msu.edu
Has the QCD Critical Point been Signaled
by Observations at RHIC? R.A.
Lacey, N.N. Ajitanand, J.M. Alexander,
P. Chung, W.G. Holzmann, M. Issah, A.
Taranenko, P. Danielewicz and H. Stocker,
Phys. Rev. Lett. 98, 092301 (2007)
Analyzing Correlation Functions with
Tesseral and Cartesian Spherical Harmonics,
P. Danielewicz and S. Pratt,
Phys. Rev. C 75, 034907 (2007)
Nuclear Isospin Diffusivity, L. Shi and P.
Danielewicz, Phys. Rev. C 68, 064604
(2003)
Surface Symmetry Energy, P. Danielewicz,
Nucl. Phys. A727, 233 (2003)
Determination of the Equation of State
of Dense Matter, P. Danielewicz, R. Lacey
and W.G. Lynch, Science 298, 1592
(2002)
My research is in the area of nuclear theory with emphasis
on central energetic reactions of heavy nuclei.
In central reactions, unique conditions are created
where nuclear matter may be compressed to densities
much larger than those typical for nuclei and may be
heated gaining thermal energy far in excess of the nuclear
binding energy. The pressures achieved in those
reactions are the highest produced by man. The compression
of matter during a reaction is followed by a
decompression that throws reaction products into different
directions.
From the features of products emitted from a central
reaction, the conditions reached during the reaction
may be deduced as well as properties of matter that
gets compressed. However, conclusions require a careful
modeling of the reaction dynamics from the side of
theory. The modeling is typically done within transport
Overview of the dynamics for a Au+Au collision in the system center
of mass. Time increases from left to right.
NSCL
theory, and sample calculations are illustrated in the
figure. In the course of reaction modeling, the theory,
on one hand, seeks explanations for the results of measurements.
On the other hand, it produces suggestions
for what to measure next in order to verify the conclusions
or in order to gain novel information on the nuclear
medium.
Multiparticle final states of the reactions in measurements
potentially contain enormous amount of information.
E.g. for a state with 20 particles, each collision
event yields 3x20=60 independent numbers just in terms
of particle momentum components. Development of
strategies for reducing the abundance of information
to an information that can be absorbed by a human
and is simultaneously useful, has called for the involvement
of theory. With my personal participation, it became
apparent how to relate the geometry of emission
of products to the spatial geometry of a reaction
characterized by the scale of 2•10 -15 m. Techniques
have been developed to create, on a statistical basis,
detailed images of final stages of the reactions with
multiparticle final states.
Properties of matter of nuclear reactions naturally link
with the properties of matter in finite nuclei. Following
that link, I have ventured into aspects of nuclear
structure, particularly with regard to the imbalance between
the neutron and proton numbers in nuclei. Transport
that is close to or fully within the quantum domain
has elements that are common for different areas. The
theory of nonequilibrium Green’s functions, which I
pursue, links the developments made in the context of
nuclear reactions with those in electrical engineering
and in early cosmology.
www.nscl.msu.edu
17

My research interest focuses on new developments for
particle accelerators at NSCL, particularly design of
accelerating lattices, study of systems with linear and
non-linear beam dynamics properties, development
of emittance cooling techniques, and beam measurements
and lattice tuning methods.
The Coupled Cyclotron Facility (CCF) is one of the most
powerful rare isotope production facilities in the world.
At the CCF, stable isotopes beams are accelerated up
to 200 MeV/nucleon of kinetic energies and sent on a
production target to produce rare isotope beams that
are studied in nuclear physics experiments. Over the
last years, the intensity of primary beams on the production
target has been steadily increased and the
facility operated at a high degree of reliability to meet
the constant needs of the nuclear physics research program.
To continue increasing the facility performance,
improving the beam quality and reducing the time for
primary beam tuning are crucial and a core part of the
research program in the accelerator group pertaining
to the CCF. Being successful in cooling the beam (i.e.
improving its quality) prior to its injection into the cyclotrons
would be a significant step forward to further
increase the beam power on the production target. At
the same time, reducing the beam tuning time by developing
automatic tuning capabilities would increase
the beam time for the nuclear physics experiments and
thus increase the scientific output of the laboratory.
These topics, among others, are necessary to keep the
CCF among the leading rare isotope research facilities
in the world.
Selected Publications
Experimental evidences for emittance degradation
by space charge effect when using
a focusing solenoid below an electron
cyclotron resonance ion source, G. Machicoane
et al., Rev. Sci. Instrum. 79, in press
(2008)
Design, Construction and First Commissioning
Results of SuSI Superconducting Source
for Ions at NSCL/MSU, P.A. Závodszky et al.,
Rev. Sci. Instrum. 79, in press (2008)
Optics improvements of the K500 axial injection
line, M. Doleans et al. Proc. 18 th Int.
Conf. Cyclotrons and their Applications
2007, in press (2008)
Status Report on the NSCL RF Fragment Separator,
M. Doleans et al., Proc. Part. Accel.
Conf. PAC07, 3585 (2007)
Beam Dynamics Studies for the Reacceleration
of Low Energy RIBS at the NSCL, X. Wu
et al., Proc. Part. Accel. Conf. PAC07, 1769
(2007)
Marc Doleans
Assistant Professor
Accelerator Physics & Engineering
B.S., Physics,
Paris 7 University,
1997
M.S., Physics,
Paris 7 University,
1999
PhD, Physics,
Paris 7 University,
2003
Joined NSCL
in October 2003
doleans@nscl.msu.edu
NSCL is currently building a new accelerator (linac).
This machine will be the first of its kind to reaccelerate
rare isotope beams up to a three MeV/nucleon
of kinetic energies after they have been cooled and
brought near to rest in a gas stopping system upstream.
The linac will mainly use a room temperature radio-frequency
(rf) quadrupole and superconducting resonators
to re-accelerate the beams. Such a machine is a
new challenge for NSCL which has a strong expertise
in superconducting cyclotron accelerators but much
less in superconducting linear accelerators. A strong
research program in superconducting rf technology in
the last few years has helped to acquire the capability
to build such a linac at NSCL but many challenges lay
ahead for building, commissioning and operating the
newest of NSCL accelerators. For example, new tuning
techniques and associated beam diagnostics are
needed and currently being developed at the laboratory
for the reaccelerator.
Stability analysis for
the motion of particles
with various
kinetic energies in
the lattice of a linear
accelerator. The trajectories
in the longitudinal
phase space
(projections in the zz’
plane) showing a region
where the motion
of the particles
is stable (dark blue)
and a region where it
is unstable (light blue
and beyond).
18 www.nscl.msu.edu
NSCL

Alexandra Gade
Assistant Professor
Experimental Nuclear Physics
M.S., Nuclear Physics,
University of Cologne,
1998
PhD, Physics,
University of Cologne,
2002
Joined NSCL
in April 2002
gade@nscl.msu.edu
Selected Publications
Spectroscopy of 36 Mg: Interplay of normal
and intruder configurations at the
neutron-rich boundary of the “Island of
Inversion.”, A. Gade et al., Phys. Rev.
Lett. 99, 072502 (2007)
In-beam nuclear spectroscopy of
bound states with fast exotic ion beams.
A. Gade and T. Glasmacher, Prog. Part.
Nucl. Phys. 60, 161 (2007)
Measurement of excited states in 40 Si
and evidence for weakening of the
N=28 shell gap, C.M. Campbell et al.,
Phys. Rev. Lett. 97, 112501 (2006)
Direct Evidence for the Onset of Intruder
Configurations in Neutron-Rich
Ne Isotopes, J.R. Terry et al., Phys. Lett.
B 640, 86 (2006)
Quadrupole Deformation of the Self-
Conjugate Nucleus 72 Kr, A. Gade et al.,
Phys. Rev. Lett. 95, 022502 (2005)
The structure of the atomic nucleus at the extremes of
neutron-proton asymmetry is presently the focus of my
research interest. Short-lived, radioactive nuclei that
are composed of many more neutrons than protons,
for example, often reveal surprising properties. The
shape, the excitation pattern as well as the energy
and occupation of the nucleus’ quantum mechanical
orbits by protons and neutrons may be significantly
altered compared to expectations that are based on
the well-known properties of stable nuclei.
My group performs scattering experiments to characterize
the bulk effects of these changes by assessing
the deformation of a nucleus and its excitation pattern.
Nucleon knockout or pickup experiments track
these exciting modifications of the nuclear structure
on the level of the neutron and proton orbits that
make up the nucleus on a microscopic level.
Reaction residues generated in
the collision of a 38 Si beam with
a 9 Be target. Energy loss versus
flight time allows for unambiguous
identification of all produced
nuclei. The exotic nucleus
of interest in this experiment was
36 Mg which has twice as many
neutrons as protons.
γ-ray energy spectrum detected
in coincidence with 36 Mg. The
peak at 660 keV energy constitutes
the first measurement of
the energy of the first excited
state in 36 Mg, the heaviest Mg
isotope studied with γ-ray spectroscopy
to date.
In the grazing collision of an exotic projectile beam
with a light target one or two protons or neutrons can
be removed in direct, so-called knockout reaction.
The heavy residue of this reaction is identified and its
kinematics measured with NSCL’s large-acceptance
S800 spectrograph. Spectroscopy of de-excitation
γ-rays performed with NSCL’s segmented germanium
array SeGA around the target then tells us if the reaction
led to an excited state. The energy of the detected
γ-rays measures the energy difference between
two nuclear states and its intensity tells us how likely
the state was actually populated in such a knockout
reaction.
In intermediate-energy Coulomb excitation, the exotic
nuclei are scattered off a stable gold target and
excited in the electromagnetic Coulomb field of the
target nuclei. Excited energy levels decay back by
the emission of γ radiation, which photon detectors
surrounding the target register. The energy of the γ-ray
reveals the energy of the excited state and its intensity
relates to the probability of the excitation process. This
probability increases with increased deformation of
the nucleus and thus provides a method to characterize
the nuclear shape.
The results from those experiments are often surprising
and reveal that exciting changes take place in the
structure of exotic nuclei compared to stable species.
We work in close collaboration with nuclear structure
theorists and reaction theorists. Our experimental input
helps to unravel the driving forces behind the often
spectacular modifications in nuclear structure and
adds to the improvement of modern theories that are
aimed to provide a model of the atomic nucleus with
predictive power also in the exotic regime.
NSCL
www.nscl.msu.edu
19

The research in my group focuses on the experimental
exploration of the structure of very exotic atomic nuclei
and the development of experimental techniques and
detectors needed for such studies. Many aspects of
atomic nuclei close to stability are well described with
modern theories that have been extensively tested
against a large set of experimental data. The situation
is different for exotic nuclei far from stability. Here, experimental
data is sparse and theoretical descriptions
have less predictive power. Our goal is to aide in developing
a predictive theory of exotic nuclei by providing
measurements of key observables for exotic nuclei. At
NSCL, we prepare beams of exotic nuclei and probe
their internal structure through scattering experiments.
In these experiments, we measure calculable quantum-mechanical
observables with defined precision.
The measured observables can then confront theoretical
predictions.
Most of the experiments we perform employ in-beam
γ-ray spectroscopy of exotic beams at velocities close
to 40% of the speed of light. Photons emitted from
sources moving with such large velocities are strongly
Doppler shifted and the emission angle of the γ-ray
with respect to the scattered beam particle must be
measured in position-sensitive γ-ray detectors. We employ
position-sensitive NaI(Tl) detectors and segmented
Germanium detectors (the SeGA array). We collaborate
with Prof. Gade’s group on the development of
a new CsI detector array (which provides large γ-ray
detection efficiency) and with scientists at Lawrence
Berkeley National Laboratory on GRETINA, a next-generation
germanium-based γ-ray spectrometer (which
provides superb energy resolution). A digital data acquisition
system for SeGA is being developed in collaboration
with Prof. Starosta’s group.
Selected Publications
Quadrupole collectivity in silicon isotopes
approaching neutron number N=
28, C.M. Campbell et al., Phys. Lett. B
652, 169 (2007)
Measurement of excited states in 40 Si
and evidence for weakening of the
N=28 shell gap, C.M. Campbell et al.,
Phys. Rev. Lett. 97, 112501 (2006)
Direct evidence for the onset of intruder
configurations in neutron-rich Ne isotopes,
J.R. Terry et al., Phys. Lett. B 640,
86 (2006)
Accuracy of B(E2;0 + →.2 + ) transition rates
from intermediate-energy Coulomb excitation
experiments, J.M. Cook, T. Glasmacher,
and A. Gade. Phys. Rev. C 73,
024315 (2006)
‘Magic’ nucleus 42 Si, J. Fridmann et al., Nature
435, 922 (2005)
M.S., Physics,
Florida State University,
1990
PhD, Physics,
Florida State University,
1992
Joined NSCL
in November 1992
glasmacher@nscl.msu.edu
Gamma-rays traverse target material with known attenuation
and are thus ideally suited to indicate inelastic
excitations in fast exotic beams. In-beam γ-ray experiments
allow for experiments with very low beam rates
(order of ions/s), where the low beam rate is offset by
the thick secondary targets. Depending on the choice
of target, we can probe the electromagnetic response
of the exotic nuclei in intermediate-energy Coulomb
excitation (with a high-Z target) or the hadronic response
of the exotic nucleus (with a hydrogen target).
Comparison of the two experimental probes allows us
to assess the contributions of protons and neutrons to
excitation strengths separately.
As experimental nuclear physicists we perform experiments
to make inquiries about nature. Understanding
the experimental equipment and the measurement
process is crucial to measuring observables with welldefined
precision.
Spectra of γ-rays
emitted from 40 Si
following the excitation
of a 40 Si
beam in a liquid
hydrogen target
(panel (a)) and
the removal of
a proton and
neutron from a
42
P beam (panel
(b)).
20 www.nscl.msu.edu
NSCL
Counts / (10 keV)
14
12
10
8
6
4
2
0
8
6
4
2
↓
Thomas Glasmacher
Professor and Associate Director
for Operations
↓
↓
↓
γ-ray Energy (keV)
(a) p( 40 Si, 40 Si + γ)p´
v = 0.411 c
(b) p( 42 P, 40 Si + γ)X
v = 0.405 c
0
400 600 800 1000 1200 1400 1600 1800 2000
Experimental Nuclear Physics

Bill Lynch
Professor
Experimental Nuclear Physics
Selected Publications
Isospin Diffusion Observables in Heavy Ion
Reactions, T. X. Liu et al., Phys. Rev. C 76,
034603 (2007)
B.S., Physics,
University of Colorado,
1973
PhD, Nuclear Physics,
University of Washington,
1980
Joined NSCL
in December 1980
lynch@nscl.msu.edu
Spin Determination of Particle Unstable Levels
with Particle Correlations, W.P. Tan et al.,
Phys. Rev. C 69, 061304(R) (2004)
Isospin effects in nuclear multifragmentation,
W.P. Tan, S.R. Souza, R.J. Charity, R. Donangelo,
W.G. Lynch, and M.B. Tsang, Phys.
Rev. C 68, 034609 (2003)
Determination of the Equation of State of
Dense Matter, P. Danielewicz, R. Lacey,
W.G. Lynch, Science 298, 1592 (2002)
Imaging Sources with Fast and Slow Emission
Components, G. Verde, D.A. Brown, P.
Danielewicz, C.K. Gelbke, W.G. Lynch, M.B.
Tsang, Phys. Rev. C 65, 054609 (2002)
Our research is focused upon understanding nuclear
collisions and how the information derived from such
collisions can improve the understanding of nuclei,
nuclear matter and neutron stars. Surprising as it may
seem at first, constraints on the pressures that support a
neutron star can be obtained by probing the pressures
that are achieved in nuclear collisions or by examining
the nuclear forces that bind very neutron-rich nuclei.
Such nuclear properties can be related to neutron
star properties through their common dependence on
the equation of state of nuclear matter, which plays
the same role for nuclear systems as the ideal gas law
plays for gases. Finding appropriate constraints on the
nuclear equation of state requires the development
of new experimental devices, new experimental measurements
and theoretical developments.
NSCL
One of the largest uncertainties in the nuclear equation
of state concerns the symmetry energy, which describes
how the energy of nuclei and nuclear matter
changes as one replaces protons in a system with neutrons,
making the system more and more neutron rich.
In some regions in the interiors of neutron stars, matter
can be of the order of 95% neutrons. Whether this matter
collapses under the gravitational attraction of the
neutron star depends on the repulsive pressure from
the symmetry energy. Experimental measurements
presently do not satisfactorily constrain the pressure
from the symmetry energy. Some of our recent experiments
have provided constraints on the symmetry pressure;
one of our goals is to make such constraints more
stringent.
Recently, our group commissioned the new High Resolution
Array (HiRA), shown in figure, and applied this new
device to investigations of the symmetry energy. This
device was constructed by a collaboration of scientists
at NSCL, at the University of Washington in St. Louis and
at Indiana University. It was recently used to measure
the correlations between protons emitted in the collision;
such correlations can be inverted to obtain an image
of the expansion of a compressed nuclear system
and thereby determine the expansion rate. Members
of our research group, some of whom are shown in the
picture, played important roles in the development of
HiRA, as they do with our other research instruments.
Students also play important roles in the interpretation
and theoretical modeling of the data that they measure,
providing them with opportunities to also probe
theoretical aspects of the phenomena that they are
investigating.
www.nscl.msu.edu
21

Nuclear Decay Spectroscopy
Paul F. Mantica
Paul Mantica
PROFESSOR
SELECTED PUBLICATIONS
Nuclear Magnetic Moment of the 57 Cu Ground State,
K. Minamisono, P.F. Mantica, T.J. Mertzimekis, A.D.
(b. 1964)
Davies, M. Hass, J. Pereira, J.S. Pinter, W.F. Rogers, J.B.
Professor
B.S., 1985,
Nuclear Decay Spectroscopy
Stoker, B.E. Tomlin, and R.R. Weerasiri, Phys. Rev. Lett. Rensselaer
Paul F.
Polytechnic
Mantica
2006, 96, 102501.
Nuclear Chemistry
SELECTED PUBLICATIONS
PROFESSOR Institute;
Half-life and Spin of 60 Mn g Nuclear Magnetic Moment of the
, S.N. Liddick, P.F. Mantica,
57 Cu Ground State,
K. Minamisono, P.F. Mantica, T.J. Mertzimekis, A.D.
Ph.D., (b. 1990, 1964)
B.A. Brown, M.P. Selected Carpenter, Publications
Davies, A.D. M. Davies, Hass, J. Pereira, M.Horoi, J.S. Pinter, W.F. Rogers, J.B. University of Maryland, B.S., 1985,
Stoker, B.E. Tomlin, and R.R. Weerasiri, Phys. Rev. Lett. Rensselaer Polytechnic
R.V.F. Janssens, A.C. Morton, 2006, W.F. 96, Mueller, 102501. J. Pavan,
College Institute; Park;
H. Nuclear Schatz, A. Magnetic Stolz, S.L. Tabor, Moment Half-life B.E. and Tomlin, of Spin of the and 57 Cu M.
Weideking, Ground Phys. State, Rev. K. C Minamisono 2006, 73, 044322.
60 Mn g , S.N. Liddick, P.F. Mantica, DOE Postgraduate
Ph.D., 1990,
B.A. Brown, et M.P. al., Carpenter, Phys. A.D. Davies, M.Horoi, University of Maryland,
R.V.F. Janssens, A.C. Morton,
Ground Rev. Lett. State 96, Magnetic 102501 Dipole (2006) Moment of 35 W.F. Mueller, J. Pavan, Research College Training Park;
H. Schatz, A. Stolz, S.L. Tabor, K, T.J. B.E. Tomlin, and M.
Weideking, Phys. Rev. C 2006, 73, 044322.
Program, DOE Postgraduate 1990-93,
Mertzimekis, P.F. Mantica, A.D. Davies, S.N. Liddick,
Research Training
Half-life and Spin of 60 MnGround g , S.N. State Liddick Magnetic et Dipole al., Moment of Oak Ridge
and B.E. Tomlin, Phys. Rev. C 2006, 73, 024318.
35 K, T.J.
Program, 1990-93,
Mertzimekis, P.F. Mantica, A.D. Davies, S.N. Liddick,
Phys. Rev. C 73, 044322 (2006)
Associated B.S., Universities; Oak Ridge
and B.E. Tomlin, Phys. Rev. C 2006, 73, 024318.
Associated
Chemistry,
Universities;
Probing Shell Structure and Shape Probing Shell Changes Structure and in Neutron-rich
Ground Sulfur State Isotopes Magnetic through tron-rich Dipole Transient-field Sulfur Moment Isotopes through of g-Transient-field g-
Shape Changes in
Rensselaer
Neu-
Staff Polytechnic
Staff Scientist,
1993-95, 1993-95, UNISOR,
35 factor Measurements on Fast Radioactive Beams of
factor K, Measurements T.J. Mertzimekis, on Fast 38
P.F. Mantica, Radioactive A.D. Beams Da-ovies,
and S.N. 40 S and
Institute,
38
S S, A.D. Liddick, Davies, and A.E. B.E. Stuchbery, 40 S, A.D. Davies, A.E. Stuchbery, P.F. Mantica,
Oak Ridge
Tomlin, P.F. Phys. Mantica,
Oak P.M. Davidson, A.N. Wilson, Rev. A. Beccerril, B.A. Brown, Associated Universities.;
C.M. Campbell, J.M. Cook, D.C. Dinca, A. Gade, S.N.
1985
P.M. C Davidson, 73, 024318 A.N. (2006) Wilson, A. Beccerril, B.A. Brown, Associated Universities.;
National Director,
Liddick, T.J. Mertzimekis, W.F. Mueller, J.R. Terry, B.E.
2006-present,
C.M. Campbell, J.M. Cook, D.C. Tomlin, Dinca, K. Yoneda, A. Gade, and H. Zwahlen, S.N. Phys. Rev.
PhD,
Lett.
Nuclear National ACS Chemistry,
Director,
Nuclear and
2006, 96, 112503.
Radiochemistry
Liddick, Probing T.J. Shell Mertzimekis, Structure W.F. and Mueller, Shape J.R. Changes Terry, B.E.
Tomlin,
University
2006-present,
Beta-Decay Half-Lives and Beta-Delayed Neutron of Summer Maryland,
Schools.
Neutron-rich K. Yoneda, Sulfur and H. Isotopes Zwahlen, Emission Probabilities through Phys. Rev. for Transient-field
96, 112503. g-factor Measurements to the N=82 r-Process on Path, Fast F. Montes, A. Estrade, P.T.
Neutron-Rich Lett. Nuclei Close ACS Nuclear and
2006, Radiochemistry College Park,
Beta-Decay Radioactive Half-Lives Beams and of 38 Hosmer, S.N.
Beta-Delayed S and 40 Liddick, P.F. Mantica, A.C. Morton, W.F.
517-355-9672,
Mueller, M. Oullette, S, A.D. E.
Neutron
Pellegrini, Davies
et Probabilities al., Phys. Rev. for Lett. A. Stolz,
P. Santi, H. Schatz,
Ext. 456
Summer Schools. 1990
Emission Neutron-Rich 96, B.E. 112503 Tomlin, O.
Nuclei (2006) Arndt, K.-L. Kratz, B. Pfeiffer, P.
Reeder, W.B. Walters, A. Aprahamian, Close and A. Woehr,
to the N=82 r-Process Path, F.
Phys.
Montes,
Rev. C 2006,
A.
73,
Estrade,
035801.
P.T.
Hosmer,
Beta-Decay
S.N. Liddick,
Half-Lives
P.F. Mantica,
and
A.C.
Beta-Delayed
Morton, W.F.
517-355-9672, Joined NSCL
y research has focused on
Mueller,
Neutron the study
M. Oullette,
Emission of low-energy
E.
Probabilities with a single
Pellegrini, P. Santi,
for proton Neutron- outside the purported “doubly-magic”
H. Schatz,
in August Ext. 4561995
Rich Nuclei Close to the N=82 r-Process
M
Ni
properties of nuclei far from the valley of ! stability
to provide experimental support for the dramatic neighboring nuclei and shell model predictions (see figure).
nucleus, and its mirror partner,
A.
Path,
Stolz, B.E.
F.
Tomlin,
Montes
O.
et
Arndt,
al.,
K.-L.
Phys.
Kratz,
Rev.
B. Pfeiffer,
C 73,
P.
57 Ni, differ significantly from
structure changes predicted for nuclei Reeder,
035801 with W.B. extreme (2006)
Walters, neutronto-proton
ratios. Two experimental approaches are used in Efforts in the !-decay spectroscopy program has focused
A. Aprahamian, and A. Woehr,
Phys. Rev. C 2006, 73, 035801.
mantica@nscl.msu.edu
these studies: !-NMR spectroscopy to measure ground state on finding evidence for dramatic changes in the neutron
moments of nuclei near the proton with drip line a single and !-decay proton spectroscopy
to probe the low-energy
outside single-particle the spectrum purported of nuclides “doubly-magic” above 48 Ca attributed 56 Ni to
nucleus, and its mirror partner, 57 the tensor
Ni, differ Single-nucleon
monopole interaction.
significantly from g factors
number (g p (see 32 = for proton figure). calcium, g
quantum structure of neutron-rich
Evidence for a new subshell gap at
nuclei. Both approaches make use neighboring nuclei and shell model predictions neutron
of short-lived, !-unstable nuclei
titanium, factor, and chromium g n = neutron is based
produced via projectile fragmentation
at the National Superconduct-
Efforts in the !-decay spectroscopy Shell program model calculations has focused predict a
partly on results of our research.
g factor) of mirror nuclei.
shell gap The at results neutron number for the
ing Cyclotron Laboratory (NSCL)
new
at Michigan State University. on finding evidence for dramatic changes 34 for 35 calcium K/ 35 in S and the mirror titanium neutron partners nuclei.
single-particle spectrum of nuclides above Our study
agree 48 Ca of the attributed low-energy quantum
states of
with the linear to
The determination of dipole
the tensor monopole 56 Ti, which has 34
and quadrupole moments of exotic
neutrons, trend did known not interaction.
find evidence for stable for
nuclei can provide insight into new
Evidence for a a significant new nuclei, subshell shell although gap at gap neutron at
35 K
features of nuclear structure. The
number 34 as expected from theory.
nuclear magnetic dipole moment
neutron is weakly 32 for bound. calcium, The
is sensitive to the orbital contribution
to the nuclear state wave func-
new instrumentation to advance
titanium, and We mirror chromium continue pair to is 57 implement based Cu/ 57 Ni
partly on results deviates of our from research. the
tion, while the electric quadrupole
our studies of nuclei at the limits
moment is a direct measure of the
Shell model of calculations existence. trend The line, new predict
suggesting
Digital Data a
nuclear charge distribution. Nuclear
Acquisition a collapse system of will the improve 56 Ni
moments at the NSCL are measured
new shell gap detection at neutron efficiencies number
by a factor
with the technique of nuclear magnetic
resonance on !-emitting nu-
The Radio Frequency Fragment
core.
34 for calcium of two and for titanium !-decay experiments. nuclei.
clei (!-NMR). We have measured Single-nucleon g factors (g p
= proton g factor, Our g n
= study neutron of Separator the low-energy has recently been quantum
35 K/ 35 S mirror
commissioned
of at 56 neutron Ti, at which the NSCL. number has This new 34 32
the ground state magnetic moment g factor) of mirror nuclei. The results for the
Evidence for a new subshell states gap
of 35 K, which has small proton separation
energy and resides close to for clei, calcium, although titanium, and neutrons, chromium did not is find based evidence partly for
35 K is weakly bound. The mirror pair 57 Cu/ 57 Ni nuclei nearest the proton drip line on
partners agree with the linear trend known for stable nu-
device will permit access to heavy
the proton drip line. The magnetic deviates from the trend line, suggesting a collapse of the
results of our research. Shell significant
for
model shell
both !-decay
calculations gap
and
at
!-NMR
neutron
spectroscopic
studies. Finally, a recent
moments of predict
35 56
K and its mirror partner
a new shell gap at neutron number number 34 as expected 34 for from calcium theory.
35 S agree surprisingly well with
upgrade of the NMR systems has and
Ni core.
the systematic trends observed for other, more stable nuclides. allowed us to obtain a precise measurement of the ground
In contrast, we have found that the magnetic moments of 57 Cu, state quadrupole moment of the short-lived nucleus 37 K.
My research research has has focused on on the the study of low-energy
properties properties of nuclei of nuclei far from far from the valley the valley of β of stability ! stability
experimental to provide experimental support for support the dramatic for the dramatic struc-
to
provide
ture structure changes changes predicted for for nuclei nuclei with with extreme extreme neutronto-proton
ratios.
neutron-to-proton
ratios.
Two experimental
Two experimental
approaches
approaches
are used in
these studies: !-NMR spectroscopy to measure ground state
are used in these studies: β-NMR spectroscopy to measurtroscopy
ground to probe state the moments low-energy of nuclei near the proton
moments of nuclei near the proton drip line and !-decay spec-
drip quantum line and structure β-decay of neutron-rich spectroscopy to probe the lowenergy
nuclei. Both quantum approaches structure make of use neutron-rich nuclei. Both
approaches of short-lived, make !-unstable use of nuclei short-lived, β-unstable nuclei
produced via via projectile fragmentation
at the National Superconduct-
fragmentation at NSCL.
The ing determination Cyclotron Laboratory of dipole (NSCL) and quadrupole moments
of at exotic Michigan nuclei State can provide University. insight into new features
of nuclear structure. The nuclear magnetic dipole moment
The is sensitive determination to the of orbital dipole contribution to the nuclear
and state quadrupole wave moments function, of while exotic the electric quadrupole
moment nuclei can is provide a direct insight measure into new of the nuclear charge
distribution. features of nuclear Nuclear structure. moments The at NSCL are measured
with
nuclear
the
magnetic
technique
dipole
of nuclear
moment
mag- netic resonance titanium nuclei. Our study of the low-energy quantum
is sensitive to the orbital contribution
to the nuclear state wave func-
new instrumentation to advance
We continue to implement
on β-emitting nuclei (β-NMR). We have measured the states of 56 Ti, which has 34 neutrons, did not find evidence
for a significant shell gap at neutron number 34
ground tion, while state the magnetic electric quadrupole moment of 35 K, which has small
mantica@msu.edu
33 our studies www.chemistry.msu.edu/mantica
of nuclei at the limits
proton moment separation is a direct measure energy of and the resides close to the proton
nuclear drip charge line. The distribution. magnetic Nuclear moments of 35 K and its mirror
as expected from theory. of existence. The new Digital Data
We continue to implement Acquisition new instrumentation system will improve to advance
our studies of nuclei at the limits of existence.
partner moments 35 at S the agree NSCL surprisingly are measured well with the systematic
detection efficiencies by a factor
trends with the observed technique for of nuclear other, more magnetic
resonance we have on found !-emitting that the nu-
magnetic moments of
The Radio Frequency Fragment
stable nuclides. In contrast,
of two for !-decay experiments.
The new Digital Data Acquisition system will improve
57 clei detection efficiencies by a factor of two for β-decay
Cu, (!-NMR). with a single We have proton measured outside Single-nucleon the purported g factors “doubly-magic”
the ground state Ni nucleus, magnetic and moment g factor) of mirror
(g p
= proton g factor, g n
= neutron Separator has recently been commissioned
at the NSCL. This new
experiments. The Radio Frequency Fragment Separator
has recently been commissioned at NSCL. This new
its mirror partner, 57 nuclei. The results for the
Ni, differ
35 K/ 35 S mirror
significantly
of 35 K, which has
from
small
neighboring
proton separation
energy and resides close to clei, although 35 K is weakly bound. device The mirror will pair permit 57 Cu/ 57 Ni access nuclei to nearest heavy the nuclei proton nearest drip line the
partners agree with the linear trend known for stable nu-
nuclei and shell model
device will permit access to heavy
predictions.
the proton drip line. The magnetic deviates from the trend line, suggesting proton a drip collapse line of for the both for both β-decay !-decay and and β-NMR !-NMR spectroscopic
studies. Finally, troscopic a recent studies. upgrade Finally, of a the recent NMR
spec-
Efforts moments in of the 35 56
K β-decay and its mirror spectroscopy partner
35 S agree on finding surprisingly evidence well with for dramatic changes in systems has allowed us upgrade to obtain of the a NMR precise systems measure-
has
Ni core.
program has focused
the
the systematic
neutron single-particle
trends observed
spectrum
for other, more
of nuclides
stable nuclides.
above
allowed
ment of
us
the
to obtain
ground
a precise
state
measurement
quadrupole
of
moment
the ground
of the
48
In contrast, we have found that the magnetic moments of
Ca attributed to the tensor monopole interaction.
57 Cu, state quadrupole moment of the short-lived nucleus
short-lived nucleus 37 K.
37 K.
33
www.chemistry.msu.edu/mantica
22 www.nscl.msu.edu
NSCL
mantica@msu.edu
CHEMISTRY RESEARCH FACULTY
CHEMISTRY RESEARCH FACULTY

Felix Marti
Professor and Senior Physicist
Accelerator Physics & Engineering
B.S., Physics,
University of the Republic
Montevideo,
1973
M.S., Physics,
Michigan State University,
1975
PhD, Physics,
Michigan State University,
1977
Joined NSCL
in July 1979
marti@nscl.msu.edu
Selected Publications
The Cyclotron Gas Stopper project at the
NSCL, G.K. Pang et al., Proc. Part. Accel.
Conf. PAC07, 3588 (2007)
Design, Construction and Commissioning of
the SUSI ECR, P.A. Zavodszky et al., Proc. Part.
Accel. Conf. PAC07, 3766 (2007)
End-to-end beam dynamics simulation of the
ISF driver LINAC, Q. Zhao et al., Proc. Part. Accel.
Conf. PAC07, 1775 (2007)
An upgrade to the NSCL to produce intense
beams of exotic nuclei, R. C. York et al., Proc.
Lin. Acc. Conf. LINAC06, 103 (2006)
Study of space charge effects using a small
storage ring that works in the isochronous regime,
F. Marti, E. Pozdeyev and J. Rodriguez,
Proc. 17 th Intl. Conf. Cyclotrons and their Applications
2004, p. 430 (2005)
My research interests are in the area of accelerator
physics. I have been involved in the design and construction
of the two superconducting cyclotrons (K500
and K1200) used for nuclear physics research at NSCL,
as well as a neutron cancer therapy cyclotron used in
a Detroit hospital.
NSCL has a long trajectory of innovation in the design
of cyclotrons starting in the early 1960s. In the last few
decades the introduction of high field superconducting
magnets and more recently superconducting radio
frequency acceleration systems has allowed the
construction of more compact and consequently less
expensive accelerators.
accelerators with beam power of the order of a megawatt
in a small-scale accelerator with beam power of
just a few watts. With that in mind a small storage ring
was built that is dedicated full time to student work. A
very successful experimental program confirmed the
theoretical predictions of beam instabilities.
The accelerator group has worked with several industrial
companies that fabricate accelerators for cancer
therapy serving as advisors and transferring new technologies.
The design of compact accelerators requires the solution
of complicated electromagnetic problems with
high accuracy. As an example, the magnets have to
be machined and aligned to accuracies of tenths of
micrometers. The development of sophisticated software
for the solution of electromagnetic problems has
allowed the construction of new accelerators with very
little prototyping. The accelerator group at NSCL has
developed a comprehensive library of beam dynamics
codes used to simulate the physics of beams in cyclotrons
and linacs.
Students in the accelerator physics area are involved
in the design from basic principles of the different components
of the accelerators as well as in experimental
work during commissioning of new devices. The study
of the internal forces within the beam (space charge
effects) has been the topic of several students in recent
years. The goal is to simulate the effects of high-energy
View of a beam bunch in the storage ring after breaking up due to
space charge forces. The beam is moving from left to right. The red
line shows the intensity projected along the bunch length. The study
of the formation and evolution of the clusters has been the topic of
student research projects.
NSCL
www.nscl.msu.edu
23

Wolfgang Mittig
Hannah Professor
Experimental Nuclear Physics
Selected Publications
Maya: An Active-Target Detector for Binary Reactions
with Exotic Beams, C.E. Demonchy et al.,
Nucl. Instrum. Meth. A583, 341 (2007)
Resonance State in 7 H, M.Caamano et al., Phys. Rev.
Lett. 99, 062502 (2007)
Exotic Nuclei, why and how to make them? W. Mittig,
P. Roussel-Chomaz and A.C.C. Villari, Europhysics
News 35, 113 (2004)
High Intensity Beams at Ganil and Future Opportunities,
and Simplified Project Report: LINAG-Phase
I, G. Auger, W. Mittig, M.H. Moscatello and A.C.C.
Villari, Report Ganil R 01 02 (2001)
Mass Measurements Far from Stability, W. Mittig, A.
Lepine-Szily and N.A. Orr, Ann. Rev. Nucl. Part. Sci.
47, 27 (1997)
Docteur ès Sciences,
Université de Paris,
1971
Livre Docente,
University of Sao Paulo,
1977
Joined NSCL
in January 2008
mittig@nscl.msu.edu
Since my university studies, first in Germany and later
in France, I involved myself often in very general problematics,
such as the foundation of quantum mechanics
(Bell inequality), precision measurements to search
for nuclear color-VanderWaals forces, nuclear energy
and environment, formation of superheavy systems,
and very recently the possibility of resonant neutrino
scattering.
Z
Recently, I was mainly working on experimental nuclear
physics, and more specifically on the spectroscopy
of exotic nuclei. This domain is at the frontline of present
nuclear physics and is extremely challenging for an
experimental physicist. Many new techniques have to
be developed in order to study very rare nuclei far from
stability. We developed an “active target,” a detector
in which the detection gas is at the same time the
target. This technique combines a large solid angle, in
principle 4π, with a thick target and good resolution.
The particles, beam and reaction products, are visualized
by their ionization path in the gas. A detailed
event-by-event analysis provides the reaction angles,
Q-values, angular distributions, and excitation functions
of the reactions.
Y
beam
X
K
At NSCL we formed a collaboration for the
development of such a device with even
increased performance, to become operational
in about 2-3 years, together with the
future linear post-accelerator for rare unstable
beams. The detailed specifications will
be defined during this year. The combination
of this detector with the new post-accelerator
will provide new and competitive
possibilities to study properties of very exotic
nuclei.
gassiplex
A schematic view of the active target Maya.
24 www.nscl.msu.edu
NSCL

David Morrissey
University Distinguished Professor
Nuclear Chemistry
Nuclear Chemistry
B.S., Chemistry,
Pennsylvania
State University,
1975
NSCL
Selected Publications
Beta-delayed Neutron Decay of 19 N and
20 N, C.S. Sumithrarachchi, D.W. Anthony,
P.A. Lofy, and D.J. Morrissey, Phys. Rev. C 74,
024322 (2006)
A Laser Ablation Ion Source for Gas Cell
Studies, D.A. Davies, D.J. Morrissey, G. Bollen,
P.A. Lofy, S. Schwarz, and J. Ottarson,
Nucl. Instrum. Meth. A569, 883 (2006)
SELECTED PUBLICATIONS
Beta-delayed Neutron Decay of 19 N and 20 N, C.S.
Experiments with Thermalized Rare Isotope Sumithrarachchi, D.W. Anthony, P.A. Lofy, and D.J.
Beams from Projectile Fragmentation - A Morrissey, Phys. Rev. 2006, C74, 024322
Precision Mass Measurement of the Superallowed
β-Emitter, 38 Ca, G. Bollen et al., Davies, D.J. Morrissey, G. Bollen, P.A. Lofy, S. Schwarz,
A Laser Ablation Ion Source for Gas Cell Studies, D.A.
Phys. Rev. Lett. 96, 1525101 (2006)
and J. Ottarson, Nucl. Instrum. Meth. 2006, A569, 883.
Conversion of 92 MeV/u 38 Ca / 37 K Projectile Fragments
Modern Nuclear Chemistry, W. Loveland, into Thermalized Ion Beams, L. Weissman, D.J.
D.J. Morrissey and G.T. Seaborg, Wiley Interscience
(2006)
Schury, S. Schwarz, C. Sumithrarachchi, T. Sun, and R.
Morrissey, G. Bollen, D.A. Davies, E. Kwan, P.A. Lofy, P.
Ringle, Nucl. Instrum. Meth. Part. Sci. 2005, A540, 245.
Conversion of 92 MeV/u 38 Ca / 37 K Projectile Experiments with Thermalized Rare Isotope Beams
Fragments into Thermalized Ion Beams, L. from Projectile Fragmentation - A Precision Mass Measurement
of the Super-allowed !-Emitter, 38 Ca, G. Bol-
Weissman et al., Nucl. Instrum. Meth. A540,
245 (2005)
len, et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 2006, 96 1525101.
Modern Nuclear Chemistry, W. Loveland, D.J. Morrissey
and G.T. Seaborg (Wiley Interscience, 2006).
Radioactive Nuclear Beam Facilities Based on Projectile
Fragmentation, D. J. Morrissey, and B. M. Sherrill, Proc.
Royal Soc. A, 356. 1985 (1998), and Lecture Notes on
Physics 2004, 651, 113.
UNIVERSITY
DISTINGUISHED
PROFESSOR
(b. 1953)
B.S., 1975,
PhD, Chemistry,
Pennsylvania State
University;
University of California,
Ph.D., 1978,
1978
University of California,
Berkeley;
Joined NSCL
Postdoctoral Fellow,
1978-1981,
in September 1981
Lawrence Berkeley
Laboratory;
morrissey@nscl.msu.edu
Visiting Scientist,
1987-1988,
GSI, Darmstadt, BRD;
My research lies in the realm of nuclear chemistry and
Associate Director,
an auxiliary device to deliver the exotic
National
reaction products
at thermal energies. In this project, Superconducting we have ex-
centers on studies of the production and use of the
Cyclotron Laboratory,
most exotic, short-lived nuclei created in nuclear reactions.
We have applied this knowledge to produce developed primarily in Europe and Japan and recently
tended the ion-guide ion-source (IGISOL) 1995-1999. technique
517-355-9672,
beams of very exotic radioactive ions. These nuclei are by another group at Argonne National Ext. Lab 321 to collect
interesting in their own right, some of which have not individual ions. The new device is tailored to stop and
been observed before. My graduate students have collect the exotic isotopes produced by the A1900 fragment
produced separator by the at A1900 NSCL fragment using separator a differentially at the pumped
worked My on unraveling research lies the in the mechanisms realm of nuclear of chemistry nuclear and reactions
and on centers studying on studies the of decay the production properties and use of of exotic the NSCL gas using cell a differentially in a process pumped related gas cell to in a atmospheric process relat-
sampling
isotopes
most exotic, short-lived nuclei created in nuclear reactions.
We have applied this knowledge to produce beams gas-catcher system has begun operation and a number of suced
to atmospheric sampling mass spectrometry. The so-called
nuclei. NSCL is a unique facility that brings together a mass spectrometry. The so-called gas-catcher system
strong of group very exotic of nuclear radioactive scientists ions. These and nuclei provides are interesting an in ex-cessfuceptional their own setting right, for some studying of which have the not properties been observed of before. nuclei. out by tremely the group precise headed by mass Prof. measurements Bollen (MSU Physics has Dept.). been carried
has extremely begun precise operation mass measurements and a number has been carried of successful ex-
The cyclotrons The experiments accelerate are carried out ions at the that National span Superconducting
Cyclotron
the periodic out by the group headed by Prof. Bollen.
table and have
Laboratory
very high
(NSCL),
kinetic
next
energies.
door to the Chemistry
When the
Building. My graduate students have worked on unraveling
fast ions the react mechanisms with of a nuclear target reactions nucleus, and on the studying incident the de-iocay
broken properties into of exotic pieces nuclei. with The a NSCL distribution a unique of facility sizes,
is often
many that of which brings together are unstable a strong group and of quite nuclear scientists unusual. and The
probability
provides
distributions
an exceptional
of
setting
the products
for studying
were
the properties
early subjects
of table study and have by my very group high kinetic and energies. can be When predicted the fast ions with
of
nuclei. The cyclotrons accelerate ions that span the periodic
reasonable react with accuracy. a target nucleus, The the momenta, incident ion or is velocities, often broken of
A plot of the energyloss
in a detector as a
the fragments into pieces with were a distribution shown to of sizes, be many distributed of which are around unstable
that of the
and
beam
quite unusual.
and to
The
be
probability
predicted
distributions
by models
of the
function of time-of-flight
of
products were early subjects of study by my group and can be
through a fragment separator
for products from
the nuclear predicted reaction. with reasonable These accuracy. fast moving The momenta, fragments or velocities,
of the through fragments an were isotope shown to separator be distributed to around produce that
the reaction of 78 Kr with a
can
be passed
beams of of the individual beam and to radioactive be predicted by models ions. The of the A1200 nuclear fragment
separator
reaction.
These
58 Ni target. The arrow indicates
the ‘gap’ where
was
fast
the
moving
central
fragments
instrument
can be passed
for research
through
an isotope separator to produce beams of individual radioactive
and ions. provided The A1200 intense fragment beams separator of at unstable the NSCL was ions
observed.
69 Br should have been
at NSCL
to study the nuclear central instrument reactions for research and decay at the NSCL properties. and provided This
separator intense has beams been of unstable replaced ions to in study 2001 nuclear by a reactions larger and and
more efficient
decay properties.
device
This
called
separator
the
has been
A1900
replaced
as part
in 2001
of
by
the
a larger and more efficient device called the A1900 as part of
upgrade the upgrade of the NSCL of the NSCL facility facility that that brings brings new possibilities
for studying for studying the the most exotic, short-lived nuclei. nuclei. Along with using
the new fragment separator, our group has completed the
Along construction with using and the development new fragment of an auxiliary separator, device our to deliver group
has completed
the exotic reaction
the construction
products at thermal
and
energies.
development
In this proj-
of
ect, we have extended the ion-guide ion-source (IGISOL) technique
developed primarily in Europe and Japan and recently by
another group at Argonne National Lab to collect individual
ions. The new device is tailored to stop and collect the exotic
morrissey@nscl.msu.edu
37
David J. Morrissey
A plot of the energy-loss in a detector as a function of
time-of-flight through a fragment separator for products
from the reaction of 78 Kr with a 58 Ni target. The arrow indicates
the ‘gap’ where 69 Br should have been observed.
www.nscl.msu.edu
www.chemistry.msu.edu/morrissey
CHEMISTRY RESEARCH FACULTY
25

Filomena Nunes
Assistant Professor
Theoretical Nuclear Physics
Selected Publications
B(E1) strengths from the Coulomb excitation
of 11 Be N. Summers et al., Phys. Lett. B 650,
124 (2007)
Scaling and interference in the dissociation
of halo nuclei, M.S. Hussein, R. Lichtenthäler,
F.M. Nunes and I.J. Thompson, Phys. Lett. B
640, 91 (2006)
Extended continuum discretized coupled
channels method: Core excitation in the
breakup of exotic nuclei, N. C. Summers, F.
M. Nunes, and I. J. Thompson, Phys. Rev. C
74, 014606 (2006)
Effects of deformation in the three-body
structure of 11 Li, I. Brida, F.M. Nunes and B.A.
Brown, Nucl. Phys. A775, 23 (2006)
Combined method to extract spectroscopic
information, A. M. Mukhamedzhanov and
F. M. Nunes, Phys. Rev. C 72, 017602 (2005)
Engenharia Fisica
Technologica,
Instituto Superior
Tecnico Lisboa,
1992
PhD, Theoretical
Physics,
University of Surrey,
England,
1995
Joined NSCL
in February 2003
nunes@nscl.msu.edu
I study direct nuclear reactions and structure models
that are useful in the description of reactions. Unstable
nuclei are mostly studied through reactions, because
they decay back to stability (often lasting less than a
few seconds). My work focuses on developing models
for reactions with exotic unstable nuclei. Reaction theory
is very important because it makes the connection
between experiments such as the ones performed at
NSCL, and the nuclear structure information we want
to extract. Within the realm of direct reactions, my contributions
have been toward understanding inelastic
excitation, breakup and transfer reactions.
Given that many unstable nuclei break up so easily,
the nucleus can go through the continuum (scattering
states) in the reaction. Introducing breakup accurately
involves computer intensive calculations, so we use the
High Performance Computers at MSU.
The motivation to study these reactions are three-fold.
Breakup and transfer reactions can be used as indirect
methods to obtain capture rates of astrophysical relevance.
These capture rates enter in the simulations of
stars, and explosive sites such as novae and supernovae.
In addition, reliable models for some specific direct
reactions are crucial for nuclear waste management.
Finally, and most importantly, we also need reactions
to unveil the hidden secrets of the effective nuclear
force which binds some exotic systems such and not
others.
Nuclei are many body systems of large complexity. Describing
a reaction while retaining all the complexity of
the projectile and target nuclei would be a daunting
task. Fortunately, to describe many direct reactions,
only a few structure degrees of freedom are necessary.
Thus we develop simplified few-body structure
models which retain the important features of the nucleus
of interest and can be used as input to the reaction
calculations. When comparing with the data,
we learn whether our initial assumptions were correct.
When there are too many neutrons or protons in a nucleus, strange
things happen. An example is shown in the figure: 11 Li is a nucleus
with 8 neutrons but only 3 protons. It has a central core but has two
valence neutrons which hang loosely to the 9 Li core, in an orbital
of the size of Pb. If we remove any of the bodies (the core or either
neutrons), the system falls apart. This is a characteristic also seen in
Borromean rings. It means that the binding of the valence neutrons
to the core is very, very subtle. Albeit the efforts developed over the
last 20 years since the appearance of radioactive beam facilities,
the effective force that keeps unstable systems together (whether it
is 11 Li or 100 Sn) still has hidden secrets to unveil.
26 www.nscl.msu.edu
NSCL

Hendrik Schatz
Professor
Experimental Nuclear Astrophysics
Selected Publications
Heating in the Accreted Neutron Star Ocean: Implications
for Superburst Ignition, S. Gupta, E.F.
Brown, H. Schatz, P. Moeller, and K.-L. Kratz, Astrophys.
J. 662, 1188 (2007)
M.S., Physics,
University of Karlsruhe,
1993
PhD, Physics,
University of Heidelberg,
1997
Joined NSCL
in December 1999
schatz@nscl.msu.edu
X-ray Binaries, H. Schatz and K.E. Rehm, Nucl.
Phys. A 777, 601 (2006)
The importance of nuclear masses in the astrophysical
rp-process, H. Schatz, Int. Jour. Mass Spect. 251,
293 (2006)
Half-life of the Doubly Magic r-process Nucleus 78 Ni,
P. Hosmer, H. Schatz, A. Aprahamian, O. Arndt,
R.R. Clement, A. Estrade, K.L. Kratz, S.N. Liddick,
P.F. Mantica, W.F. Mueller, F. Montes, A.C. Morton,
M. Ouellette, E. Pellegrini, B. Pfeiffer, P. Reeder, P.
Santi, M. Steiner, A. Stolz, B.E. Tomlin, W.B. Walters,
A. Wöhr, Phys. Rev. Lett. 94, 112501 (2005)
A New Approach for Measuring Properties of rp Process
Nuclei, R.R.C. Clement et al., Phys. Rev. Lett.
92, 2502 (2004)
Our group’s interdisciplinary research program is at the
intersection of nuclear physics and astrophysics. The
goal is to understand the nuclear processes that occur
naturally in our universe. Nuclear reactions created, and
still create, the chemical elements our world is made of.
Nuclear reactions make the sun and all the stars shine,
and nuclear reactions power some of the greatest fireworks
in our universe - stellar explosions like supernovae,
novae, and X-ray bursts. Our research is tied in closely
with the Joint Institute for Nuclear Astrophysics (JINA), offering
unique opportunities for interdisciplinary research,
such as targeted schools and workshops, opportunities
for student and postdoc exchange with other institutions
in the US and world wide, interaction with visitors,
and a JINA club for students and postdocs.
Our main interest is the role that very unstable radioactive
nuclei play in astrophysics. Despite their very short
lifetimes - many decay within 10-100 milliseconds - they
can shape the nature of the observed stellar explosions.
They are also intermediate steps for the synthesis of the
elements. Elements like silver, gold or uranium found today
on Earth are the decay products of exotic isotopes
probably produced in supernova explosions. Very unstable
nuclei therefore determine the composition of
the entire universe. Another site where unstable nuclei
exist in large quantities are the crusts of neutron stars.
Neutron stars are typically a bit more massive than our
sun, yet their radius is only that of a small city (6 miles)
and they rotate so rapidly that a neutron star day can
last less than a second. Neutron stars represent the most
compact state of matter - a tablespoon full of neutron
star matter weighs 500 million tons. At such extreme densities,
the decay of isotopes that are extremely unstable
on Earth is blocked. These isotopes therefore form layers
in the neutron star crust and need to be understood to
explain observations.
Our group is mainly concerned with recreating the unstable
isotopes made in stellar explosions and neutron
stars in the laboratory. Little is known so far about these
nuclei because of the extreme difficulty of producing
them. This has hampered the explanation of many recent
observations of X-ray burst and nova explosions,
and is one of the issues that prevents us from answering
the question of the origin of the heavy elements in
nature. At NSCL we are now able to produce many of
the important unstable isotopes and study their often
surprising properties for the first time. We are involved
in a variety of experiments ranging from mass measurements
and decay studies to the use of reactions.
Consequently, we use a range of devices such as the
neutron detector NERO, NSCL Beta Counting System,
the SeGA γ-array, and the S800 spectrometer and work
together with other groups at NSCL and elsewhere. The
new NSCL low energy facility expected to be operational
in 2009-2010 will also offer unique new opportunities
for nuclear
astrophysics
experiments.
At the same
time, we are
also involved
in theoretical
astrophysics
calculations.
Some of the
calculations
Artists view of a neutron star that
accretes matter from a companion.
are done in our group, and others with collaborations
through JINA.
NSCL
www.nscl.msu.edu
27

Brad Sherrill
University Distinguished Professor and
Associate Director for Research
Experimental Nuclear Physics
Selected Publications
Discovery of 40 Mg and 42 Al suggests neutron drip-line
slant towards heavier isotopes, T. Baumann, et al.,
Nature 449, 1022 (2007)
The Physics of a Rare Isotope Accelerator, D. Geesaman,
C.K. Gelbke, R. Janssens, B.M. Sherrill, Ann.
Rev. Nucl. Part. Sci. 56, 53 (2006)
Frontiers of Nuclear Structure: Exotic Nuclei, B.M.
Sherrill and R.F. Casten, Nucl. Phys. News 15(2), 13
(2005)
New Approach for Measuring Properties of rp-Process
Nuclei, R.R.C. Clement et al., Phys. Rev. Lett.
92, 172502 (2004)
Commissioning the A1900 projectile fragment separator,
D.J. Morrissey et al., Nucl. Instrum. Meth.
Phys. Res. B 204, 90 (2003)
B.A., Physics,
Coe College,
1980
M.S., Physics,
Michigan State University,
1982
PhD, Physics,
Michigan State University,
1985
Joined NSCL
in January 1985
sherrill@nscl.msu.edu
The rise of nanotechnology is garnering much attention
for its ability to construct objects out of individual atoms
and molecules, at a scale roughly a billion times smaller
than the objects we encounter in our everyday lives.
In parallel to nanotechnology’s achievements; my research
is to develop the capacity to construct objects
on an even more minute scale, that of the atomic nucleus
another 100,000 times smaller. It is probably best
to describe this as femtotechnology. One femtometer,
the unit of measurement used to describe the dimensions
of a nucleus, is 10 -15 meters.
Approximately 270 isotopes are found naturally. However,
many more isotopes, nearly 7000 in total, can be
produced by particle accelerators or in nuclear reactors.
These isotopes are radioactive and spontaneously
decay to more stable forms.
times the size of a normal lithium nucleus. The existence
of such nuclei allows researchers to study the interaction
of neutrons in nearly pure neutron matter, similar to
what exists in neutron stars.
The approach that I have helped develop for production
of new isotopes is called in-flight separation; where
a heavy ion, such as a uranium nucleus, is broken up
at high energy. This produces a cocktail beam of fragments
that are filtered by a downstream system of
magnets called a fragment separator. The efficiency
of this technique can be nearly 100% and we are able
to identify a single ion out of 10 15 other particles.
There are several reasons why a latent demand exists
within the scientific community for new, rare isotopes.
One is that the properties of particular isotopes often
hold the key to understanding some aspect of nuclear
science. Another is that the rate of certain nuclear reactions
can be important for modeling astronomical
objects, such as supernovae. And of course, the pursuit
of ever more exotic isotopes sometimes advances
basic understanding in unexpected ways. A recent, remarkable
example was our discovery of 42 Al, whose existence
was thought to be unlikely. The result indicates
that nuclei can bind more neutrons than previously
predicted.
Femtotechnology gives scientists access to designer
nuclei with characteristics that can be adjusted to the
research need. For example, super-heavy isotopes of
light elements, such as lithium, have a size nearly five
The rich variety of nuclei is indicated by the depiction of three
isotopes 4 He, 11 Li, and 220 Ra overlaid on the chart of nuclides
where black squares indicate the combination of neutrons
and protons that result in stable isotopes, yellow those produced
so far, and green those that might exist. Nuclei like 11 Li
have very different characteristics, such as a diffuse surface
of neutron matter, than do normal nuclei.
28 www.nscl.msu.edu
NSCL

Krzysztof Starosta
Assistant Professor
Experimental Nuclear Physics
Selected Publications
Z=50 shell gap near 100 Sn from intermediateenergy
Coulomb excitations in even-mass
106-112 Sn isotopes, C. Vaman et al., Phys. Rev.
Lett. 99, 162501 (2007)
M.S., Physics,
Warsaw University,
1992
PhD, Physics,
Warsaw University,
1996
Joined NSCL
in August 2003
starosta@nscl.msu.edu
Linear polarization sensitivity of SeGA detectors,
D. Miller et al., Nucl. Instr. Meth. A581,
713 (2007)
Clock and trigger synchronization between
several chassis of digital data acquisition
modules, W. Hennig et al., Nucl. Instr. Meth.
B261, 1000 (2007)
Shape and Structure of N=Z 64 Ge: Electromagnetic
Transition Rates from the Application
of the Recoil Distance Method to a
Knockout Reaction, K. Starosta et al., Phys.
Rev. Lett. 99, 042503 (2007)
Effect of γ-Softness on the Stability of Chiral
Geometry: Spectroscopy of 106 Ag, P. Joshi et
al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 98, 102501 (2007)
I am investigating structure of short-lived exotic states
in nuclei far from stability. My experimental program at
NSCL concentrates on in-beam studies which explore
nuclear properties through electromagnetic excitations.
The electromagnetic probe provides an excellent
way to study nuclear systems bound by still poorly
known effective nuclear interactions; it is well understood,
and can be treated quantitatively in structure
and reaction models. In particular, the electromagnetic
transition matrix elements are observables that models
can be examined against. These matrix elements can
be obtained from transition rates or lifetimes of nuclear
states.
Many important excited nuclear states that decay by
γ-ray emission with lifetimes in the picosecond range
can be reliably measured using Doppler shift methods.
A significant fraction of my research program at NSCL
is based on applications of the Recoil Distance Method
(RDM) and Doppler Shift Attenuation Method (DSAM)
which I have developed for fast beams from fragmentation
reactions. In an RDM experiment the beam ions
are excited on a movable target, emerge from the target
and decay in flight after a distance related to the
lifetime. A stationary degrader positioned downstream
with respect to the target is used to further reduce the
velocity of the excited nuclei. The resulting γ-ray spectra
exhibit two peaks; one with a larger Doppler shift
that corresponds to the gamma-rays emitted before
traversing the degrader, and one with a smaller Doppler
shift that corresponds to γ-rays emitted after the
degrader. From the relative intensity of the peak areas
as a function of target-degrader distance, the lifetime
of the state can be inferred. The RDM was first applied at
NSCL in experiments with the Segmented Germanium
Array (SeGA), in measurements of the lifetimes of the
NSCL
first excited state in 64 Ge (produced by a single neutron
knock-out reaction from 65 Ge) and in 114 Pd (populated
by intermediate-energy Coulomb excitation).
The scientific reach of the RDM and DSAM methods
will be greatly enhanced by applications of the digital
signal processing to γ-ray spectroscopy. I am currently
leading a project to develop a fully digital, state-ofthe-art,
600-channel Digital Data Acquisition System
(DDAS) for the SeGA array; one of the largest array of
segmented detectors available for use with rare ion
beams. The DDAS will have γ-ray tracking capability
and will allow determination of the first interaction position
of a γ-ray in a SeGA detector with a precision by
a factor of two better than currently available. This will
translate into significantly improved energy resolution
from more precise Doppler correction, or increased
efficiency available with more compact SeGA geometries.
Lifetimes below 1 ps are expected to be accessible
in digital SeGA experiments. Such RDM and DSAM
studies of the products from fragmentation reactions
have the promise of reaching far from stability and providing
lifetime information for intermediate-spin excited
states in a wide range of nuclei.
Target Degrader
Variable distance
Counts Counts Counts
Energy
www.nscl.msu.edu
Schematic arrangement
of the excitation
target (gray)
and the degrader
(red) in a RDM
lifetime measurement
with a short
(top), intermediate
(middle), and a
long (bottom) flight
path.
29

Andreas Stolz
Assistant Professor and
Deputy Department Head - Operations
Experimental Nuclear Physics
Selected Publications
New isotope 44 Si and systematics of the production
cross sections of the most neutronrich
nuclei, O. B. Tarasov et al., Phys. Rev. C
75, 064613 (2007)
Two-proton correlations in the decay of 45 Fe,
K. Miernik et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 99, 192501
(2007)
Discovery of 40 Mg and 42 Al suggests neutron
drip-line slant towards heavier isotopes, T.
Baumann et al., Nature 449, 1022 (2007)
Heteroepitaxial diamond detectors for
heavy ion beam tracking, A. Stolz et al., Diamond
and Related Materials 15, 807 (2006)
First observation of 60 Ge and 64 Se, A. Stolz et
al., Phys. Lett. B 627, 32 (2005)
M.S., Physics,
Technological
University of Munich
1995
PhD, Physics,
Technological
University of Munich,
2001
Joined NSCL
in June 2001
stolz@nscl.msu.edu
My primary research interest is centered on the production
of rare isotope beams with fragment separators
and the study of the structure of nuclei at the
limits of existence. At NSCL, rare isotope beams are
produced by projectile fragmentation. The coupled
cyclotrons accelerate stable ions to a velocity up to
half the speed of light. The fast ions then impinge on a
production target where they break up into fragments
of different mass and charges. Most of the fragments
are unstable and many of them have an unusual ratio
of protons and neutrons. To study their properties,
the fragments of interest need to be separated from
all other produced particles. The A1900 fragment separator
at NSCL filters rare isotopes by their magnetic
properties and their energy loss in thin metal foils. Detector
systems installed in the path of the beam allow
the unambiguous identification of every single isotope
transmitted through the device. The large acceptance
of the separator together with intense primary beams
from the cyclotrons allow access to the most exotic nuclei
that exist, some of which were observed for the first
time at NSCL. The investigation of the limits of nuclear
stability provides a key benchmark for nuclear models
and is fundamental to the understanding of the nuclear
forces and structure.
Another research area is the development of particle
detectors made from diamond produced by chemical
vapor deposition in collaboration with the Department
of Physics and Astronomy at MSU. Radioactive
beam facilities of the newest generation can produce
rare isotope beams with very high intensities. The special
properties of diamond allow the development of
radiation-hard timing and tracking detectors that can
be used at incident particle rates up to 10 8 particles per
second. Detectors based on poly-crystalline diamond
were built and tested at NSCL and excellent timing
properties were achieved. Those detectors have been
successfully used as timing detectors in several NSCL experiments
by now. First detectors based on MSU-grown
single-crystal diamond showed superior efficiency and
energy resolution. Further development will continue
with the investigation of electronic properties of singlecrystal
diamond and the production of detectors with
larger active areas.
energy loss in silicon [GeV]
2.0
1.8
1.6
1.4
no 59 Ga
60 Ge
54 Co
53 Fe
52 Mn
1.2
200 210 220 230 240 250
time of flight through separator [ns]
Particle identification plot showing the energy loss in a silicon
detector as a function of time-of-flight through the A1900
fragment separator. The separator tune was optimized for
60 Ge, a rare isotope observed for the first time at NSCL.
10 4
10 3
10 2
10
1
30 www.nscl.msu.edu
NSCL

Michael Thoennessen
Professor and Associate Director
for Education
Experimental Nuclear Physics
Selected Publications
M.S., Physics,
University of Cologne,
1985
PhD, Physics,
SUNY Stony Brook,
1988
Joined NSCL
in November 1990
thoennessen@nscl.msu.edu
Discovery of exotic nuclides 40 Mg and
42 Al suggests neutron dripline slant towards
heavier isotopes, T. Baumann et
al., Nature 449, 1022 (2007)
Selective Population and Neutron Decay
of the First Excited State of Semimagic
23 O, A. Schiller et al., Phys. Rev.
Lett. 99, 112501 (2007)
First Observation of 60 Ge and 64 Se, A.
Stolz et al., Phys. Lett. B 627, 32 (2005)
Construction of a Modular Large-Area
Neutron Detector for the NSCL, T. Baumann
et al., Nucl. Instr. Methods A543,
517 (2005)
Reaching the Limits of Nuclear Stability,
M. Thoennessen, Rep. Prog. Phys. 67,
1187 (2004)
Vertical (cm)
50
0
-50
-100
NSCL
-50 0 50 100
Horizontal (cm)
Intensity
Neutron hits distributed over the front face of MoNA. The
intense distribution in the center is due to neutrons emitted
from the decay of the neutron unbound nucleus.
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
My research begins where the nuclear chart ends. While
normal neutron-rich nuclei decay by converting a neutron
into a proton (β decay) on a time scale of milliseconds
or longer, nuclei beyond the end of the nuclear
chart, or neutron-unbound nuclei, contain so many
neutrons that they decay by emitting one or two of the
excess neutrons on a time scale of 10 -21 s. I am part of
the MoNA/Sweeper collaborations which specialize in
the study of these neutron-unbound nuclei. The masses
and lifetimes of these extremely shortlived nuclei cannot
be measured with standard techniques. The availability
of fast radioactive ion beams at NSCL gives us
the opportunity to create neutron-unbound nuclei and
study them by detecting their decay products. For example
25 O, the first neutron-unbound oxygen nucleus,
was recently studied by our group. A primary beam of
48 Ca was accelerated to about 50% of the speed of
light with the Coupled Cyclotron Facility and a secondary
beam of 26 F was selected by the A1900 fragment
separator. The 26 F interacted with a target where we
were specifically interested in the one-proton stripping
reaction which leads to 25 O. Instantaneously, 25 O then
decays in the target into 24 O and a neutron. Due to
the large incoming energy from both, 24 O and the neutron
will leave the target essentially at beam velocity.
Following the target are two devices which were specifically
designed for these studies. The 4 Tesla superconducting
“Sweeper” magnet deflects the charged
decay fragment into a set of particle detectors that
identify the 24 O fragments and measure their energies
and angles. The Sweeper magnet was built at the National
High Magnetic Field Laboratory at Florida State
University in collaboration with NSCL.
The second device is MoNA, the Modular Neutron Array.
It is a highly efficient large area neutron detector
which measures the energy and angle of the emitted
neutrons. It was constructed by a collaboration of primarily
undergraduate institutions, and undergraduates
continue to participate in the experiments and data
analysis. From the energies and angles of the fragments
and neutrons, it is possible to reconstruct the
mass of the neutron-unbound nuclei. 25 O is only one
example of the many neutron-unbound nuclei at the
limit of nuclear existence, and our experiment was the
first to identify this exotic nucleus. With the exception
of the lightest elements (up to boron – and now 25 O),
none of these nuclei have been explored. The combination
of MoNA and the Sweeper with the fast radioactive
beams is one of the few facilities in the world
where these nuclei can be explored. In addition to the
measurement of neutron-unbound nuclei, the setup is
also ideal to search for more exotic decay modes for
example di-neutron emission.
www.nscl.msu.edu
31

Betty Tsang
Professor
Nuclear Chemistry
Selected Publications
Fragmentation cross sections and binding
energies of neutron-rich nuclei, M.B. Tsang
et al., Phys. Rev. C 76, 041302 (2007)
Survey of ground State neutron Spectroscopic
Factors from Li to Cr isotopes, M.B.
Tsang, J. Lee, W.G. Lynch, Phys. Rev. Lett.
95, 222501 (2005)
The Thermodynamic Model for Nuclear
Multifragmentation, C.B. Das, S. Das Gupta,
W.G. Lynch, A.Z. Mekjian and M.B. Tsang,
Phys. Rep. 406, 1 (2005)
Isospin Diffusion in Heavy Ion Reactions,
M.B. Tsang et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 92, 062701
(2004)
Isotope Scaling in Nuclear Reactions, M.B.
Tsang, W.A. Friedman, C.K. Gelbke, W.G.
Lynch, G. Verde, H. Xu, Phys. Rev. Lett. 86,
5023 (2001)
B.S., Mathematics,
California State College,
1973
M.S., Chemistry,
University of Washington,
1978
PhD, Chemistry,
University of Washington,
1980
Joined NSCL
in December 1980
tsang@nscl.msu.edu
As an experimentalist, I study collisions of nuclei at energies
at approximately half the speed of light. From the
collisions of nuclei, we can create environments, which
resemble the first moments of the universe after the big
bang. Properties of extra terrestrial objects such as neutron
stars can be obtained from studying collisions of a
variety of nuclei with different compositions of protons
and neutrons. One important research area of current
interest is the density dependence of the symmetry energy,
which governs the stability as well as other properties
of neutron stars. Symmetry energy also determines
the degree of stability in nuclei. We have an active program
to study the symmetry energy term in the nuclear
equation of state. In one experiment, which measured
the isotope yields from the collisions of different tin isotopes,
112 Sn+ 112 Sn (light tin systems), 124 Sn+ 124 Sn (heavy
tin systems with more neutrons), we discovered that
the ratios of the yields of specific isotopes between two
different tin systems follow a nice systematic. The yield
ratios depend exponentially on the neutron number N
and proton number Z of the specific isotopes as shown
in the figure. This phenomenon is coined “isoscaling”
and has been observed in various types of reactions.
Through model simulations, we have related the slopes
of the lines to the symmetry energy. Experiments are
planned at NSCL, as well as RIKEN, Japan, to further understand
the symmetry energy observables at different
nuclear densities created in nuclear collisions. Transport
simulations of nuclear collisions carried out at the high
performance computing center at MSU also help us in
our quest to understand the role of symmetry energy in
nuclear collisions, nuclear structure and neutron stars.
By studying particles emitted in nuclear collisions, we
also gain knowledge about the structure of nuclei. Sin-
32
www.nscl.msu.edu
gle nucleon transfer reactions, when either a proton or
neutron is transferred from the projectile to the target
or vice versa, have been used successfully in the study
of nuclear structure. This type of reaction is especially
useful in understanding the single particle states in a
nucleus. Accurate descriptions of single particle states
are of fundamental importance to check the validity
of the nuclear shell models. Shell models that can
predict properties of exotic nuclei are relevant in our
understanding of nucleosynthesis of elements when
the early universe was formed. Our group has an active
experimental program in transfer reactions using a
state of the art high resolution detector array (HiRA).
Experiments are being planned for using radioactive
beams at NSCL as well as with re-accelerated rare isotope
beams.
Yield ratios of fragments
produced
in the central collisions
of heavy
( 124 Sn+ 124 Sn) and
light ( 112 Sn+ 112 Sn)
tin isotopes plotted
as a function
of the neutron
number N, (top
panel) and proton
number Z, (bottom
panel) of the fragments.
The lines
are best fits with
exponential functions
on N and Z.
Isotopes of the
same elements use same symbols. Z=1 indicate hydrogen isotopes
and Z=8 indicate oxygen isotopes.
NSCL

John Vincent
Professor, Chief Engineer and
Head, Elect Dept
Accelerator Physics & Engineering
Selected Publications
M.S., Electrical
Engineering,
Michigan State University,
1993
PhD, Electrical
Engineering,
Michigan State University,
1996
Joined NSCL
in July 1983
vincent@nscl.msu.edu
Status Report on the NSCL RF Fragment
Separator, M. Doleans et al., Proc. Part. Accel.
Conf. PAC07, 3585 (2007)
Design, Construction and Commissioning
of the SUSI ECR, P.A. Zavodszky et al., Proc.
Part. Accel. Conf. PAC07, 3766 (2007)
Adaptive Feedforward Cancellation of Sinusoidal
Disturbances in Superconducting
RF Cavities, T.H. Kandil et al., Nucl. Instrum.
Meth. Phys. Res. A 550, 514 (2005)
Inexpensive RF Modeling and Analysis Techniques
as Applied to Cyclotrons, J. Vincent,
Proc. 16 th Int. Conf. Cyclotrons and their
Applications 2001, p. 293 (2001)
Medical Accelerator Projects at Michigan
State University, H. Blosser et al., Proc. 1989
IEEE Part. Accel. Conf. PAC89, 742 (1989)
My research interests are in RF electronics and resonant
structures, power electronics, systems engineering, and
controls.
Accelerators
I led the effort for the design and construction of the
modern RF systems for the two superconducting cyclotrons
(K500 and K1200) used for nuclear physics research
at NSCL, as well as a neutron cancer therapy
cyclotron used in a Detroit hospital. I have also consulted
on two proton cancer therapy machines in Europe,
as well as a new state-of-the-art proton therapy
machine currently being developed in the US. Recently
I have been involved in the design & development of
advanced RF controls for superconducting RF cavities.
supplies are typically single polarity supplies that can
only source energy (single quadrant) and regulate to
about 1 part in 1000. Accelerator laboratories, on the
other hand, typically require bipolar supplies that can
both source and sink energy (4 quadrant) and regulate
to at least 1:10,000. As another example, 12-bit
resolution is considered high quality in industrial control
and embedded systems, whereas accelerator systems
typically require at least 16-bit resolution. My group
has developed highly sophisticated instrumentation, 4
quadrant power supplies, and MIMO control algorithms
and continue to improve and innovate in these areas.
We also develop sophisticated software interfaces to
the laboratory systems and are currently engaged in
developing console software that is agile and crossplatform
(Windows, Linux, OS X).
Rf systems
My interests include the design and development of
charged particle accelerator RF resonators, RF power
amplifiers from 100s of Watts to 100s of KWs, as well as
sophisticated RF controls, modulation electronics, and
associated algorithms in the frequency range up to 1
GHz. As an example, continuing collaborative efforts
with the MSU College of Engineering have yielded advanced
innovative control algorithms and associated
electronics applied to the control of superconducting
RF cavities.
Power Supplies, Controls, and Instrumentation
Accelerators push the limits of stability and accuracy
for power supplies, instrumentation and controls. For
example, high quality industrial programmable power
NSCL
RF Separator Control Station showing custom electronic modules
and software interfaces.
www.nscl.msu.edu
33

Thomas Wangler
Professor
Accelerator Physics & Engineering
Selected Publications
Beam Halo in Mismatched Proton Beams.
T.P. Wangler et al., Nucl. Instrum. Meth. Phys.
Res. A 519, 425 (2004)
RF Linear Accelerators, T.P. Wangler, Wiley-
VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KG, Weinheim,
Germany, (2004)
Beam Halo Measurements in High Current
Proton Beams. C.K. Allen et al., Phys. Rev.
Lett. 89, 214802 (2002)
Design of a Proton Superconducting Linac
for a Neutron Spallation Source. T.P. Wangler
et al., Proc. 9 th Workshop on RF Superconductivity
1999 Report LA-13782-C, p. 336
(2000)
Particle-Core Model for Transverse Dynamics
of Beam Halo, T.P. Wangler, K.R.Crandall,
R.Ryne, and T.S.Wang, Phys. Rev. ST-AB 1,
084201 (1998)
B.S., Physics,
Michigan State University,
1958
PhD, Physics,
University of Wisconsin,
1964
Joined NSCL
in August 2007
wangler@nscl.msu.edu
My main focus is on the physics and design of ion linear
accelerators and particularly on the physics of
high-current and high-brightness ion linacs. I began my
career as an experimental high-energy physicist, and
switched to the accelerator field after reading about E.
O. Lawrence, from which I
realized that there was a lot
of challenging and exciting
physics to be understood in
the accelerator field.
The thrust of much of today’s
beam-physics research
is in the area of high
beam brightness, including
brightness limitations and
methods to increase the
brightness. This requires understanding
and control
of unwanted emittance
growth, where emittance is
the phase-space area occupied
by the beam. Another
important research
area is to understand and
control beam losses in intense
beams.
I have worked in the accelerator
field for more than 30
years, conducting beam-physics research associated
with large and small accelerator projects. I developed
design methods for high-current radio frequency quadrupole
(RFQ) linacs, and proton-linac designs for normal-conducting
and superconducting linacs.
The measured points are taken from an experiment at Los
Alamos showing the rms-emittance growth versus the
strength of the beam mismatch in a high current proton
beam. The curves show the prediction based on a spacecharge
free-energy model. The agreement between the
data points and the curves is excellent.
I have carried out
theoretical research
on emittance growth
in space-chargedominated
beams,
studying the relationship
between spacecharge
field energy
and emittance
growth. Working with
a team of accelerator
physicists and engineers,
I carried out
experimental and
theoretical research
on beam-halo formation
and beam
losses in high-current
mismatched proton
beams. An example
of some of the highcurrent
beam research
is shown in the
figure included.
34 www.nscl.msu.edu
NSCL

Gary Westfall
University Distinguished Professor
Experimental Nuclear Physics
Selected Publications
Incident Energy Dependence of Correlations
at Relativistic Energies, STAR Collaboration,
Phys. Rev. C 72, 044902 (2005)
B.S., Physics,
University of Texas,
Arlington,
1972
PhD, Physics,
University of Texas,
Austin,
1975
Joined NSCL
in September 1981
westfall@nscl.msu.edu
Experimental and Theoretical Challenges in
the Search for the Quark Gluon Plasma: The
STAR Collaboration’s Critical Assessment of
the Evidence from RHIC Collisions, STAR Collaboration,
Nucl. Phys. A757, 102 (2005)
Fluctuations and Correlations in STAR, G.D.
Westfall, J. Phys. G: Nucl. Part. Phys. 30,
S1389 (2004)
Narrowing of the Balance Function with
Centrality in Au+Au Collisions at = 130 GeV,
STAR Collaboration, Phys. Rev. Lett. 90,
172301 (2003)
Isolation of the Nuclear Compressibility with
the Balance Energy, D. J. Magestro, W.
Bauer, and G. D. Westfall, Phys. Rev. C 62,
041603R (2000)
My research focuses on studying the quark-gluon liquid
at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC) at
Brookhaven National Laboratory using the STAR detector.
At RHIC, we collide gold nuclei at center-of-mass
energies of up to 200 GeV per nucleon pair. At this energy,
the protons and neutrons in the incident nuclei are
transformed into a hot, dense, and strongly interacting
liquid of quarks and gluons. This quark-gluon liquid is a
nearly perfect liquid, which has nearly zero viscosity as
evidenced by the comparison of flow measurements
to hydrodynamic calculations. The universe is thought
to have existed in this form a few microseconds after
the big bang.
The main detector of STAR is its time projection chamber
(TPC). This TPC can produce a full three-dimensional
picture of the collision of two ultrarelativistic nuclei.
A collision of two gold nuclei is shown as measured in
the STAR detector. Each line in the picture corresponds
to a single particle leaving the collision. Several thousand
tracks are observed in this one central collision.
The color of the track represents the ionization density
of the track. By correlating the curvature of the track
and its ionization density, the particles that created the
track can be identified.
The three cornerstones of the observation of the quarkgluon
liquid at RHIC are thermalization, collective flow
and jet suppression. The spectra of particles emitted in
gold-gold collisions can be well described by a blastwave
model incorporating a kinetic temperature and
an expansion velocity. The relative number of various
types of particles can be well described by a thermal
model using a chemical temperature and a chemical
potential. Collective flow manifests itself in terms of azi-
NSCL
muthal anisotropies. The original anisotropy in the overlap
region of the two colliding nuclei is translated into
momentum correlations in the final state. Central collisions
of gold nuclei also show strong jet suppression.
Jets are created when a quark or a gluon undergoes a
hard scattering with another quark or gluon. These highenergy
quarks or gluons cannot be observed directly,
and the quark or gluon decays into a jet of observable
particles in the direction of the original quark or gluon.
By comparing gold-gold collisions with deuteron-gold
and proton-proton collisions, RHIC experimenters were
able to show that the quark-gluon liquid originates with
the scattering of quark and gluons.
I am also working on the design and construction of a
TPC to carry out studies of the isospin dependence of
the nuclear equation of state at NSCL.
www.nscl.msu.edu
A central collision
of two
gold nuclei at
130 GeV per
nucleon pair as
observed in the
STAR detector
at RHIC. The
figure is drawn
looking down
the beam line
of RHIC.
35

Richard York
Professor and Associate Director
for New Initiatives
Accelerator Physics & Engineering
Selected Publications
Beam Dynamics Studies for the Reacceleration
of Low Energy RIBS at the NSCL, X. Wu
et al., Proc. Part. Accel. Conf. PAC07, 1769
(2007)
Design Studies of the Reaccelerator RFQ at
NSCL, Q. Zhao et al., Proc. Part. Accel. Conf.
PAC07, 1772 (2007)
End-to-end beam dynamics simulation of
the ISF driver LINAC, Q. Zhao et al., Proc.
Part. Accel. Conf. PAC07, 1775 (2007)
Design of Half-Reentrant SRF Cavities for
Heavy Ion Linacs, J. Popielarski et al., Proc.
Part. Accel. Conf. PAC07, 2328 (2007)
An upgrade to the NSCL to produce intense
beams of exotic nuclei, R. C. York et al.,
Proc. Lin. Acc. Conf. LINAC06, 103 (2006)
M.S., Physics,
University of Iowa,
1973
PhD, Physics,
University of Iowa,
1976
Joined NSCL
in March 1993
york@nscl.msu.edu
My primary interests are in the arena of accelerator
physics. Specific areas of interest are: beam dynamics,
particularly in the high intensity regime; accelerator
systems design, particularly rings, both storage and
synchrotron; and linacs.
Particle accelerators have long been essential to scientific
discovery and technological advancement.
Accordingly, research in this area that, for example,
provide increased reach into energy and/or intensity
frontiers can produce long-term benefits for the physical
and life sciences.
Accelerator physics research is interdisciplinary involving
a broad range of arenas including beam physics,
electrodynamics, plasma physics, optics, condensed
matter physics, surface physics, electrical engineering,
mechanical engineering, and materials science. As a
consequence, training in accelerator physics is broadly
applicable to a host of careers in a multitude of academic
and industrial roles.
Experiments using a small (6.6 m circumference) ring
where space charge effects similar to those of megawatt-class
facilities can be explored.
Accelerator Systems Design (examples)
Design optimization of a high-duty factor heavy ion
linac appropriate for energies of several hundred MeV/
nucleon.
Design optimization of an electron storage ring for a
light source.
High power FEL design based upon recovering the
beam energy through utilization of superconducting
radio frequency structures
NSCL has for many years had a research program in
accelerator physics. The general research areas are
beam dynamics, especially in the high intensity regime,
and accelerator systems design.
Beam Dynamics (examples)
Computer code development to model space charge
forces in a way that captures the physics but allows
rapid exploration of possible designs.
Superconducting Radio Frequency (SRF) accelerating
structures developed at NSCL.
36 www.nscl.msu.edu
NSCL

Remco Zegers
Assistant Professor
Experimental Nuclear Physics
M.S., Technical Physics,
State University of
Groningen,
1995
PhD, Mathematics and
Natural Sciences,
State University of
Groningen,
1999
Joined NSCL
in February 2003
zegers@nscl.msu.edu
Selected Publications
On the extraction of weak transition
strengths via the ( 3 He,t) reaction at 420
MeV, R.G.T Zegers et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 99,
202501 (2007)
The (t, 3 He) and ( 3 He,t) reactions as probes
of Gamow-teller Strength, R.G.T. Zegers et
al., Phys. Rev. C 74, 024309 (2006)
Measurement of the Gamow-Teller Strength
Distribution in 58 Co via the 58 Ni(t, 3 He) reaction
at 115 MeV/nucleon, A.L. Cole et al.,
Phys. Rev. C 74, 034333 (2006)
Development of a secondary triton beam
for (t, 3 He) experiments at intermediate energies
from primary 16, 18 O beams, G.W. Hitt
et al., Nucl. Instr. Meth. A 566, 264 (2006)
Excitation and Decay of the Isovector Giant
Monopole Resonances via the 208 Pb( 3 He,tp)
Reaction at 410 MeV, R.G.T. Zegers et al.,
Phys. Rev. Lett. 90, 202501 (2003)
My research is focused on nuclear charge-exchange
reactions. In such reactions, a proton in a target nucleus
is exchanged for a neutron in the projectile nucleus,
or vice-versa, thereby transferring charge between the
target and the projectile. Although such reactions are
governed by the strong nuclear force, they are closely
connected to electron-capture and β-decay, which
are transitions governed by the weak nuclear force.
Since those weak transitions play an important role in a
number of astrophysical phenomena, such as supernova
explosions, the study of charge-exchange reactions
is an important element in better understanding the
mechanisms that drive such events. Charge-exchange
reactions are also very useful for probing specific properties
of nuclei, especially those related to spin and
isospin and are, therefore, used to improve and test
our understanding of nuclear structure. The information
obtained from such experiments is, for example, important
for describing the process of neutrinoless double
β decay, which provides insight into fundamental descriptions
of how particles interact.
We use a variety of projectiles to perform chargeexchange
reactions. To study stable nuclei, we use a
reaction in which a hydrogen-3 particle (consisting of
2 neutrons and 1 proton) exchanges a neutron for a
proton in a target nucleus, thus becoming a helium-3
particle (2 protons and 1 neutron). Since the hydrogen-3
particles are not stable, they are produced by
impinging a beam of oxygen particles, accelerated in
the Coupled Cyclotron Facility at NSCL, on a thick production
target. The A1900 fragment separator is then
used to purify the hydrogen-3 beam before it interacts
with the target. The helium-3 particles are detected in
the S800 magnetic spectrometer.
NSCL
My group is also leading efforts to study charge-exchange
reactions on unstable nuclei. Although such nuclei
only exist for a short amount of time, they can play
an important role in stellar environments where temperatures
and densities are high. To study charge-exchange
reactions on unstable nuclei, new experimental
techniques and detectors have to be developed.
At present, we focus on the (Lithium-7, Beryllium-7) and
(proton, neutron) charge-exchange reactions for such
studies.
The charge-exchange group also performs experiments
at other facilities, in particular the Research Center for
Nuclear Physics in Osaka, Japan. There, we investigate
the (Helium-3, Hydrogen-3) charge-exchange reaction,
which is just the inverse of the (Hydrogen-3, Helium-3)
reaction that we study at NSCL. An important
motivation for the experiments at RCNP is to better understand
the charge-exchange reaction mechanism.
Results from an experiment
in which
the (Hydrogen-3, Helium-3)
reaction was
studied on a target of
Nickel-58. In the top
two figures, the experimental
(Gamow-
Teller) transition
strengths as a function
of the transferred
(excitation) energy to
the Nickel-58 nucleus
are compared with
different theoretical
models. The experimental
and theoretical
strengths are used to calculate electron-capture rates in massive
stars just before they turn supernova in the bottom figure.
www.nscl.msu.edu
37

Vladimir Zelevinsky
Professor
Theoretical Nuclear Physics
Selected Publications
Tunneling of a composite particle: Effects
of intrinsic structure, C.A. Bertulani, V.V.
Flambaum and V.G. Zelevinsky, J. Phys. G
34, 2289 (2007)
Continuum Shell Model, A. Volya and V.
Zelevinsky, Phys. Rev. C 74, 064314 (2006)
Nuclear structure, random interactions
and mesoscopic physics, V. Zelevinsky
and A. Volya, Phys. Rep. 391, 311 (2004)
The nuclear shell model as a testing
ground for many-body quantum chaos,
V. Zelevinsky, B.A. Brown, N. Frazier, and M.
Horoi, Phys. Rep. 276, 85 (1996)
Quantum chaos and complexity in nuclei,
V. Zelevinsky, Ann. Rev. Nucl. Part. Sci. 46,
237 (1996)
M.S., Physics,
Moscow University,
1960
PhD, Physics,
(Budker) Institute of
Nuclear Physics,
1963
Joined NSCL
in June 1993
zelevinsky@nscl.msu.edu
My current interest is concentrated on mesoscopic aspects
of nuclear physics. The mesoscopic world is intermediate
between elementary particles and macroscopic
bodies. Mesoscopic systems consist of a relatively
small number of particles which still show up noticeable
properties of matter. On the other hand, such systems
are small enough so that we can study, in theory and in
experiments, individual quantum states. Nuclei provide
one of the best examples of such arrangement and
self-organization. Other mesoscopic systems are complex
atoms, molecules (including biological ones), solid
state nano-devices and future quantum computers. In
all cases, we have certain symmetry, particles, their individual
motion in a common field, their interactions,
collective excitations (waves, vortices, rotation), coexistence
of regularity, complexity and chaos, response
to external forces and possible decay.
wire, quantum computer). Our experience in nuclear
physics helps in understanding a more broad class of
problems.
Another important theoretical topic is related to symmetries
and phase transitions. We still do not have a reliable
theory of nuclear shapes and their transformations
along the nuclear chart or as a function of excitation
energy. The problem is that in mesoscopic systems frequently
the shape is not sharply fixed as, for example,
in perfect crystals, but many nuclei are soft and reveal
large shape fluctuations. On the other hand, there are
reasons to believe that soft modes can enhance some
unusual phenomena, such as violation of fundamental
symmetries (invariance with respect to coordinate inversion
and time reversal). This is a bridge between mesoscopic
physics and physics of elementary particles.
Loosely bound nuclei are of special interest just because
of weak binding. In this situation quantum particles
can live far away from the rest of the system in
a classically forbidden region forming quantum skins,
halos and clusters. Intrinsic structure of such system is
strongly coupled with continuum (or an environment
in the context of condensed matter). It is a challenge
to learn how one can describe in the same consistentframework
intrinsic properties, resonant interaction with
external fields and numerous nuclear reactions which
give the only available tool to study such exotic systems.
Our method of choice is the Continuum Shell
Model that combines on equal footing structure and
reactions. There are still many unsolved problems in this
promising approach. Nuclear reactions have many
common features with the signal transmission through a
mesoscopic solid state device (quantum dot, quantum
For the chain of isotopes from 16 to 28 we have calculated, in the
same approach, bound states, resonances and neutron scattering
cross sections. In red we show unstable states with strong color indicating
shorter lifetimes.
38 www.nscl.msu.edu
NSCL

NSCL
NSCL in the News
The experimental results and theoretical interpretations
of NSCL results are published in peer
reviewed journals such as Physical Review and
Physical Review Letters, Nuclear Physics A and
Physics Letters B, and the Astrophysical Journal
and Astrophysical Journal Letters.
One of the most recent results was published
in the journal Nature. In the October 25, 2007
issue, NSCL researchers described the successful
creation of three never-before-observed
isotopes of magnesium and aluminum.
The results not only stake out new territory on
the nuclear landscape, but also suggest that
variants of everyday elements might exist that
are heavier than current scientific models predict.
“It’s been a longstanding project since the
beginning of nuclear science to establish
what isotopes can exist in nature,” said Dave
Morrissey, University Distinguished Professor
of chemistry and one of the paper’s authors.
“This result suggests that the limit of stability
of matter may be further out than previously
expected; really, it shows how much mystery
remains about atomic nuclei.”
The research was covered by media outlets
around the world, including Science, the Los
Angeles Times and BBC News.
On the left, a picture from the NSCL experimenters’
logbook used during the experiment.
The partially visible scrawled note “Let
the celebrations begin!” reflects the researchers’
excitement at the discovery.
Above, a particle identification
plot reveals several of the isotopes
produced in the experiment, including
magnesium-40.
www.nscl.msu.edu
39

NSCL
Michigan State University
A Brief History
In 1855, the Michigan State Legislature passed
Act 130 which provided for the establishment
of the “Agricultural College of the State of
Michigan,” which came to be known as the
Michigan Agricultural College or “MAC.” MAC
was formally opened and dedicated on May
13, 1857, in what is now East Lansing. MAC was
the first agricultural college in the nation, and
served as the prototype for the 72 land-grant
institutions which were later established under
the Federal Land Grant Act of 1862, unofficially
known as the “Morrill Act” after its chief
sponsor, Senator Justin Morrill of Vermont.
The Campus
The East Lansing campus of MSU is one of the
most beautiful in the nation. Early campus architects
designed it as a natural arboretum
with 7,000 different species of trees, shrubs
and vines represented. The Red Cedar River
bisects the campus; north of the river’s treelined
banks and grassy slopes is the older, traditional
heart of the campus. Some of the existing
ivy-covered red-brick buildings found in
this part of campus were built before the Civil
War. On the south side of the river are the more
recent additions to campus — the medical
complex, the veterinary medical center, and
most of the science and engineering buildings
are included in this area. The
surrounding communities are varied,
and offer rural and “big city”
alternatives.
Events
The arts have flourished at MSU, especially in
the past two decades after our impressive
performing arts facility, the Wharton Center for
Performing Arts, opened in the Fall of 1982. The
Wharton Center’s two large concert halls are
regularly used for recitals, concerts and theater
productions by faculty, student groups,
and visiting and
touring performing
artists. Wharton
Center brings to our
campus dozens of
professional musical
and theatrical
groups each year.
MSU is also home
to the Jack Breslin
Student Events
Center, a 15,000+
seat arena which is home to the MSU Spartan
basketball team and also plays host to worldclass
concerts and attractions.
Two facilities that offer both educational
and recreational opportunities are the MSU
Museum and the Kresge Art Center. The Museum
houses documented research collections
in Anthropology, Paleontology, Zoology
and Folklife, as well as regularly hosting traveling
exhibits. The Kresge Art Center contains
studios and classrooms, and an art museum
where both a permanent collection and visiting
exhibitions are on display to the public.
The Kresge Center’s art museum is strongest
in examples of 19 th and 20 th century art, but
also contains a wide variety of other artworks
spanning global history.
40
www.nscl.msu.edu

NSCL
Michigan State University
Recreation
Many recreational activities are available on
campus and in the Lansing area. Walking and
running trails, available extensively throughout
the campus, take you through protected
natural areas along the Red Cedar River. MSU
has two 18-hole golf courses available to students,
faculty and staff. There are three fitness
centers that provide basketball, handball and
squash courts, exercise machine rooms, and
aerobic workouts. Two indoor ice skating rinks,
an indoor tennis facility, more than thirty outdoor
tennis courts, and five swimming pools
are accessible as well. In both summer and
winter, local state parks such as Rose Lake offer
many outdoor activities. In Michigan, snow
is not a problem, but an activity, so bring your
skis.
MSU, which was
admitted into the
Big Ten in 1948, has
a rich tradition in
athletics. MSU first
competed in conference
football in
1953, sharing the
title that year with
Illinois. Since that
time, MSU has enjoyed
considerable
success in Division I
athletics, including
NCAA titles in basketball and hockey, among
other sports. Graduate students, faculty, and
staff at NSCL are strong supporters of the athletic
programs, which offer opportunities for
social interactions outside of the laboratory.
Academics
There are approximately 44,000 students on
campus— from every state and 126 foreign
nations. Of these, approximately 9,000 are
in graduate and professional programs. MSU
leads all public universities
in attracting National
Merit Scholars,
and is also a leader
in the number of students
who win National
Science Foundation
Fellowships. Michigan
State was the first university
to sponsor National
Merit Scholarships.
If students are the lifeblood of a campus, then
the faculty is the heart of a great university.
The more than 4,000 MSU faculty continue to
distinguish themselves, and include members
in the National Academy of Sciences (two
newly appointed in May, 2003), and honorees
of prestigious fellowships such as the Fullbright,
Guggenheim and Danforth.
University-wide research has led to important
developments throughout MSU’s history. Early
research led to important vegetable hybrids,
and the process for homogenization
of milk. More recently, the
world’s widest-selling and most
effective type of anticancer
drugs (cisplatin
and carboplatin) were
discovered at MSU.
www.nscl.msu.edu
41

NSCL
The Lansing Area
Capital City
Lansing, Michigan’s capital city, is centrally
located in Michigan’s lower peninsula. The
greater metropolitan area has a population
of approximately 446,000 and is home to several
large industries. The city offers a variety of
restaurants, the Lansing
Symphony Orchestra,
a number of theater
companies, and the
Lansing Lugnuts baseball
team. The Impression
5 Science Museum,
the R.E. Olds Transportation
Museum, and
the Michigan Historical
Museum attract visitors
from throughout the region.
Major local employers include MSU, the
state government, and General Motors. Several
high-tech companies are located in the
area, including the Michigan Biotechnology
Institute, BioPort Corporation and Neogen
Corporation.
There is a large scientific community in the
Lansing area which, along with MSU, is due in
part to the presence of a number of the State
of Michigan research laboratories in the area
including the Department of Agriculture,
the Department of Natural
Resources, the Department
of Public Health Laboratories,
and the Michigan State
Police Crime Laboratories.
In addition to MSU, the Lansing Community
College, the Thomas M. Cooley Law School,
and Davenport College are all located in the
capital city area, and the MSU College of Law
is housed on the MSU campus.
Natural Wonders
Situated in the heart of the Great Lakes region
of the United States, MSU’s East Lansing Campus
is centrally located to not only metropolitan
areas such as Chicago and Detroit, but to
outstanding natural resources and to northern
Michigan’s world-class summer and winter
resorts. Michigan’s Upper Peninsula is an undeveloped
and unspoiled area of immense
natural beauty with a population density of
less than twenty persons per square mile. It offers
many unique “getaway” opportunities for
all seasons. The Lansing area itself provides a
variety of recreational opportunities including
many golf courses, boating and beach life at
Lake Lansing in the summer, and cross-country
skiing in the winter. Hunting and fishing opportunities
are also found widely throughout
the state.
East Lansing
Complementing campus life is the city of East
Lansing, which surrounds the northern edge
of the MSU campus. East Lansing is noted for
its congenial atmosphere and tree-lined avenues.
Shops, restaurants, bookstores, cafés,
malls and places of worship serve the student’s
needs. East Lansing provides students
with a relaxing and stimulating environment
for their graduate school experience.
42
www.nscl.msu.edu

NSCL
www.nscl.msu.edu
43

44 www.nscl.msu.edu
NSCL

NSCL
Useful Links
NSCL Website
NSCL Publications
www.nscl.msu.edu
www.nscl.msu.edu/ourlab/publications
The Graduate School at Michigan State University
www.grad.msu.edu
National Science Foundation
www.nsf.gov
U.S. Department of Energy
www.energy.gov
Department of Chemistry at MSU
www.chemistry.msu.edu
Department of Physics & Astronomy at MSU
www.pa.msu.edu
College of Engineering at MSU
www.egr.msu.edu
Statistical Research Center of the American Institute of Physics
www.aip.org/statistics
Joint Institute for Nuclear Astrophysics (JINA)
www.jinaweb.org
www.nscl.msu.edu
45

National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory
at Michigan State University
Spring 2008
Portions of this brochure were adapted
from the Department of Chemistry
at Michigan State University.
Designed by Jon Whiting

National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory
Michigan State University
1 Cyclotron, East Lansing, Michigan 48824-1321
Phone 517-355-9671
www.nscl.msu.edu
Operation of NSCL as a national
user facility is supported by the
Experimental Nuclear Physics Program
of the U.S. National Science Foundation.