Research between optics and nuclear science
New Research Training Group “Nuclear Photonics” at TU Darmstadt
2023/05/12
The German Research Foundation (DFG) has approved the international research training group “Nuclear Photonics” of TU Darmstadt and Politehnica University Bucharest. The Research Training Group will be funded with approximately five million euros from 1 October 2023 to 30 September 2028. The spokesperson is TU Professor Norbert Pietralla.
Nuclear photonics is a rapidly developing interdisciplinary research field. It addresses laser-induced phenomena on nuclear energy scales and comprises the generation of brilliant particle beams by high-power lasers, basic research in nuclear physics with photonuclear reactions and developments of new techniques and methods for their use. The aim is to generate and enhance beams of high-energy photons, of light and heavy ions and of neutrons using lasers. Photonuclear research is expected to provide valuable data on nuclear structure and astrophysical questions and their scientific interpretation. Aspects of accelerator technology, radiation-hard particle detectors and corresponding measurement methods will expand technological and metrological applications of nuclear photonics. Among other things, the results will be used to gain new insights into the formation of the heaviest elements in the universe and to develop methods for the disposal of radioactive waste or new tools for diagnosis and medical treatment.
