Events

September 1, 2015 at 5:00 pm

INPP Seminar | Collapsing Stars, Neutrinos and Nuclei: Open Questions about the Role of VP-Process in the Synthesis of Elements, Sept. 29

George Perdikakis

George Perdikakis

The Institute of Nuclear and Particle Physics (INPP) presents George Perdikakis, of Central Michigan University, presenting Collapsing Stars, Neutrinos and Nuclei: Open Questions about the Role of VP-Process in the Synthesis of Elements,” on Tuesday, Sept. 29, at at 4 p.m. in Edwards Accelerator Lab, Roger W. Finlay Conference Room.

Abstract: Collapsing massive stars that explode as supernovae, have long been considered an important site for the production of elements heavier than iron.  What nuclear process, however, is at work inside these stars and what elements it can produce is not fully understood.  The vp-process is a proposed type of nucleosynthesis in core collapse supernovae supported by recent hydrodynamics simulations.  It could be a key process in order to explain astronomical observations of elements in ancient stars.  Unfortunately, its role is not yet fully understood mainly due to a lack of experimental information on the relevant reaction rates and significant uncertainties in the theoretical modeling of nuclear reactions and the astrophysical environment.

I will present the work of my group at Central Michigan University that aims to constrain experimentally the key reaction rates for vp-process using an indirect reaction technique, and to quantitatively understand uncertainties in the modeling of nuclear reactions for astrophysics.

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