Exclusive Measurements of Nuclear Reactions with Weakly Bound Nuclei

• Grant number: 24/23124-1
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: September 01, 2025
• End date: August 31, 2028
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Physics - Nuclear Physics
• Principal Investigator: Valdir Brunetti Scarduelli
• Grantee: Valdir Brunetti Scarduelli
• Host Institution: Instituto de Física (IF). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• City of the host institution: São Paulo
• Associated researchers: Leandro Romero Gasques ; Luiz Carlos Chamon
• Associated scholarship(s): 25/22102-7 - Investigation of the 6,7Li + 154Sm reactions at energies near the Coulomb barrier, BP.MS

Abstract

Weakly bound nuclei exhibit a high probability of breaking up during nuclear reactions, which introduces a complex three- or multi-body problem. This characteristic makes reactions involving such nuclei highly interesting, as the breakup channel can significantly influence other reaction channels. Moreover, many of these nuclei have a cluster structure, posing both experimental and theoretical challenges in nuclear physics.The main goal of this project is to deepen the understanding of reaction mechanisms in systems involving weakly bound nuclei. To achieve this, a new data acquisition system will be implemented in 30B beamline at the Open Laboratory for Nuclear Physics and Applications (LAFNA) at IFUSP, utilizing pulse digitizer modules and the recently developed segmented detectors STAR and OSCAR. Replacing analog electronics with digital electronics will enable exclusive measurements, where particles resulting from the reaction will be detected in temporal coincidence. This capability will identify fragments from the breakup of weakly bound projectiles. The new detection and data acquisition system will open new experimental perspectives, enabling the exploration of a wide range of systems and expanding the study of nuclear reactions. Consequently, this project will significantly contribute to establishing LAFNA's experimental infrastructure as a reference in low-energy nuclear physics. (AU)