Events

November 1, 2017 at 4:15 pm

Physics Colloquium | Neutron Sources in Stellar and High Density Plasmas, Dec. 1

The Physics & Astronomy Colloquium Series presents Michael Wiescher, of University of Notre Dame, on “Neutron Sources in Stellar and High Density Plasmas”, on Friday, Dec. 1, at 4:10 p.m. in Walter 245.

Michael Wiescher

Michael Wiescher

Abstract: There are considerable uncertainties in the strength of stellar neutron sources for the production of heavy elements in the various s-process environments from inter shell burning in AGB stars to helium core burning in RGB stars. The strength and role of a neutron source depends not only on the environmental conditions in stars, but also on the reaction rates of the associated nuclear processes.

The talk will present the two most likely stellar neutron sources and the experimental progress towards determining a reliable reaction rate.  These and similar reactions can also occur in anthropogenic high density plasma environments such as anticipated for the National Ignition Facility (NIF) and may serve as nuclear signature for characterizing and profiling the environmental conditions during a NIF shot.

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