Nuclear Theory Group

Prof. Jonathan Engel and graduate student Joao Henriques de Jesus are working on several interesting problems at the interface of nuclear physics, particle physics and astrophysics:

• Studying the synthesis of the heaviest elements (from lighter elements capturing neutrons and beta decaying), a process that is thought to take place in supernova explosions but is not completely understoood.
• Calculating neutrino capture by and double beta decay of nuclei, so that experiments looking for unusual neutrino properties (a nonzero mass, for instance) can be properly interpreted.
• Investigating ways in which fundamental symmetries (e.g. parity and time-reversal invariance) can be violated in nuclei. Currently we are looking at the possibility that atoms with pear-shaped nuclei will have unusually large electric-dipole moments, a signature of time-reversal violation.
• Constructing group-theoretical models of nuclear structure, which provide insight into collective behavior in nuclei. Most recently we have examined the way protons and neutrons pair up in the unstable nuclei produced in astrophysical explosions.

Dr. Engel collaborates with experimental groups at TUNL, as well as with particle theorists from UNC and nuclear theorists from a number of other universities. For a list of his publications click here.