Erin Peters
University of Kentucky, KY·Physics
Every atomic nucleus is a tightly packed cluster of protons and neutrons, and how these particles interact decides the nucleus's shape and behavior. Some nuclei change shape as protons or neutrons are added.
- Fields
Physics
- Topics
nuclear structure
nuclear physics
shape coexistence
- Grants
- 1 known grant, through Jul 2027
What they work on
- Study nuclear structure relevant to neutrinoless double-beta decay using inelastic scattering of fast, single-energy neutrons from the University of Kentucky accelerator and measuring the emitted gamma rays.
- Investigate nuclei undergoing shape transitions and nuclei showing shape coexistence, where two shapes exist at similar energies, by mapping their low-energy collective excited states.
- Measure the lifetimes of excited states in heavy nuclei with the Doppler-shift attenuation method, which reads small energy shifts in gamma rays after neutron scattering.
More about the research
Others can hold two different shapes at nearly the same energy, a phenomenon called shape coexistence. Understanding these structures tests theories of nuclear forces. It also informs searches for neutrinoless double-beta decay, a predicted but never observed radioactive process that would reveal basic properties of neutrinos.
Why it matters
This is mainly basic science. It adds measurements of how protons and neutrons arrange themselves and how nuclei change shape, which help test theories of nuclear structure. Data on nuclei relevant to neutrinoless double-beta decay could help interpret experiments probing neutrino properties. The program also trains nuclear scientists who could contribute to national energy, medical and security needs.
Known grants
From NIH and NSF research grants. Labs often have other funding we can't see.
Closest labs
Jonathan Engel
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, NC·Physics
Compute nuclear matrix elements for neutrinoless double-beta decay in experimentally used isotopes, using three ab initio nuclear-structure methods that build nuclei from their protons and neutrons.
Walter Pettus
Indiana University, IN·Physics
Scale Cyclotron Radiation Emission Spectroscopy (CRES), which measures electron energy from emitted radio waves, toward a multi-cubic-meter tritium experiment by leading control systems for Project 8 demonstrator apparatuses.
Nathan Frank
Augustana College, IL·Physics
Develop a modular fast-neutron detector array of plastic scintillators read out by silicon photomultipliers (SiPMs), compact light sensors, to locate neutron hits more precisely than paired-photomultiplier bar detectors.
The school
University of Kentucky: 34 labs on PI Pages, $528M a year on research, 319 research doctorates a year.
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