Nuclear Physics at UNC

Research in nuclear physics at UNC focuses on the nature of the nuclear force, nuclear astrophysics, and fundamental symmetries in nature. Two articles in the UNC-Chapel Hill quarterly research magazine Endeavors highlight our group's research work. Learn more about the program and what nuclear physics can offer you.

The Triangle Universities Nuclear Laboratory conducts complex experiements dealing with gamma rays and nuclear astrophysics. The largest university-based nuclear-physics lab in the nation, TUNL contributes greatly to both the physics community and the department.

Probing the nuclear system with γ rays initiates simple and exotic vibrations, flourescence, or the emission of light elements. The Photonuclear Physics group seeks to understand these richly complex phenomena and apply them to the problems of nuclear spectroscopy, astrophysics, and homeland security.

By studying the rarest phenomena in nature, our group tries to understand the fundamental properties of matter and the composition of the universe. We are involved with numerous experiments that perform these studies, including the Sudbury Neutrino Observatory (SNO), the MAJORANA experiment that searches for neutrinoless double- beta decay, the DEAP/CLEAN dark matter search, the KamLAND reactor neutrino detector, the KATRIN neutrino mass experiment, and others. Please visit our website for more information.

Studies of few-nucleon systems enable a connection between nuclear reaction and nuclear structure phenomena to the basic NN interaction. In the few-body group, observables in n+d and p+³He scattering are measured and compared with state-of-the art calculations including the three nucleon force. Nuclear reactions of relevance to Big Bang Nucleosynthesis are investigated.

The Nuclear Astrophysics program at UNC delves into the mysteries of space, searching for answers to the questions posed by phenomena such as solar nuclear reactions, the evolution of the galaxy, and the influence of nuclear processes on the Universe.

Weaving together the fields of astrophysics, nuclear physics, and particle physics, the Nuclear Theory Group examines intriguing problems such as time-reversal violation, parity, and obscure processes in supernovas.

Review selected publications of our nuclear physicists which document their individual interests and discoveries.

A list of current Nuclear Physics seminars is listed here.