My main research focus is in the clustering structure of atomic nuclei. The work I do is on the experimental side of nuclear physics, though I closely collaborate with theorists on the systems I'm measuring. I'm particularly interested in how some nuclei, which are composed of protons and neutrons, can be successfully modeled as a collection of α (alpha) particles. An α particle, consisting of two protons and two neutrons, is the nucleus of the helium atom. Since α particles are very stable structures, it's not a surprise that one can model a larger nucleus as a collection of α particles. For example, 12C contains six protons and six neutrons, which can thus be described as three α particles. Any model is only as good as its predictions, so it's vital to measure observable quantities to discern whether or not the clustering of α particles inside of a nucleus can improve our understanding of nuclear structure.
Clusters of α particles can take many geometric shapes within a nucleus. In carbon, there are various predictions including triangular shapes and even linear-chain structures, in which the three α particles form a perfectly straight line. This one-dimensional behavior has been predicted since at least the 1950s [1], and evidence of it has been highly sought-after ever since. There have been predictions that adding additional neutrons to carbon may help stabilize the linear-chain structure. One of my recent publications [2] involves the study of 14C. In this work, my colleagues and I identified a rotational band of excited states that has close agreement with an antisymmetrized molecular dynamics model [3] that predicts linear-chain structure in 14C. We are continuing our studies of 14C and related systems to further understand the nature of linear-chain α-structure in nuclei.
In the figure at the top of this page, the image on the left shows a picture of the Prototype Active-Target Time-Projection Chamber (PAT-TPC). Superimposed on top of the PAT-TPC is a cartoon of a nuclear reaction that can happen inside of the detector. In this example, an incoming 10Be beam particle strikes a target α particle, resulting in a resonance in 14C before decaying back into 10Be and α. Electrons, shown as black dots, are created when the helium gas target is ionized, and they are used to reconstruct each nuclear reaction. One such reconstructed event is shown on the right side of the figure. This graph of actual data is virtually a photograph of particle trajectories in one specific nuclear reaction that took place inside of the PAT-TPC.
I'm always happy to take on a motivated student, so please contact me if you're interested!
ResearchGate Profile
Research Lab: Herak 254A (tours given upon request)
Research Assistants (Gonzaga students unless otherwise indicated)
Summer 2019 - Nathan Magrogan and Brennan Watkins
Project Title: Gamma Ray Spectroscopy Simulations with Geant4
Summer 2018 - Andrew Clusserath and Bryce Makela
Project Title: Gamma Detection Simulations in Nuclear Isomers
Summer 2017 - Henry Thurston
First Project Title: 3 Body Nuclear Kinematic Modeling
Second Project Title: Finding a Relation Between Galactic Redshift and Radial Distance
Summer 2016 - Joey Gutierrez and Jourden Simmons
Project Title: Monte Carlo Acceptance Simulations for the Prototype Active-Target Time-Projection Chamber
Summer 2015 - Michael Wolff (College of Wooster)
Project Title: Measurement of Gain and Drift Velocity of the Prototype AT-TPC, presented at the 2015 Fall Meeting of the APS Division of Nuclear Physics
[1] H. Morinaga, Phys. Rev., 101, 254 (1956).
[2] Fritsch et al., Phys. Rev. C 93, 014321 (2016).
[3] T. Suhara and Y. Kanada-En’yo, Phys. Rev. C 82, 044301 (2010).
Clusters of α particles can take many geometric shapes within a nucleus. In carbon, there are various predictions including triangular shapes and even linear-chain structures, in which the three α particles form a perfectly straight line. This one-dimensional behavior has been predicted since at least the 1950s [1], and evidence of it has been highly sought-after ever since. There have been predictions that adding additional neutrons to carbon may help stabilize the linear-chain structure. One of my recent publications [2] involves the study of 14C. In this work, my colleagues and I identified a rotational band of excited states that has close agreement with an antisymmetrized molecular dynamics model [3] that predicts linear-chain structure in 14C. We are continuing our studies of 14C and related systems to further understand the nature of linear-chain α-structure in nuclei.
In the figure at the top of this page, the image on the left shows a picture of the Prototype Active-Target Time-Projection Chamber (PAT-TPC). Superimposed on top of the PAT-TPC is a cartoon of a nuclear reaction that can happen inside of the detector. In this example, an incoming 10Be beam particle strikes a target α particle, resulting in a resonance in 14C before decaying back into 10Be and α. Electrons, shown as black dots, are created when the helium gas target is ionized, and they are used to reconstruct each nuclear reaction. One such reconstructed event is shown on the right side of the figure. This graph of actual data is virtually a photograph of particle trajectories in one specific nuclear reaction that took place inside of the PAT-TPC.
I'm always happy to take on a motivated student, so please contact me if you're interested!
ResearchGate Profile
Research Lab: Herak 254A (tours given upon request)
Research Assistants (Gonzaga students unless otherwise indicated)
Summer 2019 - Nathan Magrogan and Brennan Watkins
Project Title: Gamma Ray Spectroscopy Simulations with Geant4
Summer 2018 - Andrew Clusserath and Bryce Makela
Project Title: Gamma Detection Simulations in Nuclear Isomers
Summer 2017 - Henry Thurston
First Project Title: 3 Body Nuclear Kinematic Modeling
Second Project Title: Finding a Relation Between Galactic Redshift and Radial Distance
Summer 2016 - Joey Gutierrez and Jourden Simmons
Project Title: Monte Carlo Acceptance Simulations for the Prototype Active-Target Time-Projection Chamber
Summer 2015 - Michael Wolff (College of Wooster)
Project Title: Measurement of Gain and Drift Velocity of the Prototype AT-TPC, presented at the 2015 Fall Meeting of the APS Division of Nuclear Physics
[1] H. Morinaga, Phys. Rev., 101, 254 (1956).
[2] Fritsch et al., Phys. Rev. C 93, 014321 (2016).
[3] T. Suhara and Y. Kanada-En’yo, Phys. Rev. C 82, 044301 (2010).
