Perspectives of Nuclear Physics in Europe - European Science ...

The use of the very high intensity laser and the very
brilliant, intense γ-beam will achieve major progress in
nuclear physics and its associated fields like the element
synthesis in astrophysics and many new applications. In
ion acceleration, the high power laser allows to produce
10 15 times denser ion beams than achievable with classical
acceleration. The cascaded fission-fusion reaction
mechanism can then be used to produce very neutronrich
heavy nuclei for the first time. These nuclei allow
to investigate the N = 126 waiting point of the r-process
in nucleosynthesis. Thus, with this type of new laser
acceleration mechanism, very significant contributions
to one of the fundamental problems of astrophysics,
the production of the heavy elements beyond iron in
the universe can be addressed. Moreover, interesting
synergies are achievable with the γ-beam and the brilliant
high-energy electron beam to study new fundamental
processes in high-field QED.
In addition to a wide range of fundamental physics
projects, applied research will also be performed at
ELI-NP. The γ-beam can be used to map the isotope
distributions of nuclear materials or radioactive waste
remotely via Nuclear Resonance Fluorescence (NRF).
New schemes for the production of medical isotopes
via (γ,n) reactions will be of high socio-economical relevance.
Low energy, brilliant, intense neutron beams
and low energy, brilliant, intense positron beams will be
produced that open up new fields in materials science
and the life sciences.
Layout and architectural view of ELI-NP facility.
(E e = 600 MeV). The brilliant bunched electron beam
will be produced by a warm linac using the X-band
technology.
Compared to former γ facilities, the much improved
bandwidth is decisive for this new γ beam facility. The
γ beam will have unique properties in worldwide comparison
and opens new possibilities for high-resolution
spectroscopy at higher nuclear excitation energies.
Several experiments, like a parity violation experiment,
only become possible due to this much better bandwidth.
They will lead to a better understanding of nuclear
structure at higher excitation energies with many doorway
states, their damping widths, and chaotic behaviour,
but also new fluctuation properties in the time and energy
domain. The detailed investigation of the pygmy dipole
resonance above and below the particle threshold is very
essential for nucleosynthesis in astrophysics.
3.2.3 Major Upgrades of Existing
Facilities
Major upgrades of existing European nuclear facilities
have recently been approved to take place at CERN,
INFN-LNL Legnaro and GSI Darmstadt.
HIE-ISOLDE at CERN, Geneva,
Switzerland
ISOLDE at CERN produces radioactive beams through
fission, spallation and fragmentation reactions induced
by 1.4 GeV protons from the PS booster. It offers the
largest variety of post-accelerated radioactive beams in
the world today. In order to broaden the scientific opportunities
far beyond the reach of the present facility, the
HIE-ISOLDE (High Intensity & Energy) project will provide
major improvements in energy range, beam intensity
and beam quality. A major element of the project will be
an increase of the final energy of the post-accelerated
beams to 10A MeV throughout the periodic table. This
will be achieved by replacing the current REX LINAC by
superconducting cavities and will be implemented in a
Perspectives of Nuclear Physics in Europe – NuPECC Long Range Plan 2010 | 45