Feb
27
2026

Actinide Abundances, Variation, and Evolution in Metal-Poor Stars featuring Shivani Shah (North Carolina State University)

Online

Seminars

Hosted by: Aldana Grichener (University of Arizona and Observatory)

Abstract: The actinides, including thorium (Th), are the heaviest observable elements synthesized in the universe, holding clues to the extremes of the astrophysical and nuclear conditions of r-process sites. I present Th abundances based on high-resolution spectroscopy for 47 metal-poor stars, the largest homogeneously analyzed sample to date.

Dec
05
2025

Experimental study of 22Ne(𝜶,𝒏)25Mg with SHADES featuring Daniela Mercogliano (University of Naples Federico II)

Online

Seminars

Hosted by: Khang Pham (TAMU)

Abstract: The reaction 22Ne(𝛼,𝑛)25Mg is one of the main neutron source in stars, providing the neutron flux for the weak component of the s-process in massive stars and partially contributing to the main component in AGB stars. For these reasons, its reaction rate is crucial in nuclear astrophysics.


However, the limited availability of experimental data in the energy range of astrophysical interest still leads to significant uncertainties in the reaction rate and in nucleosynthesis predictions.

Nov
21
2025

Clustering in Boron-9 as a Test of Mirror Symmetry featuring Jack Bishop (University of Birmingham, UK)

Online

Seminars

Hosted by: Araceli Garcia Flores (IFUNAM)

Abstract: Nuclear clustering is a phenomenon where the structure of the nucleus tends towards clumps of alpha particles rather than a homogenous ball of protons and neutrons. Understanding this feature of the nuclear force is particularly important for astrophysics, for instance in the Hoyle state which is essential to the triple-alpha process.

Sep
26
2025

The search for freshly synthesized radionuclides from stellar explosions on Earth featuring Dominik Koll (HZDR, Germany)

Online

Seminars

Hosted by: Steffen Turkat (TU Dresden, Germany)

Abstract: Stars are the element factories of the universe. Stellar explosions distribute freshly synthesized radionuclides in the interstellar medium and lead to the chemical enrichment of galaxies. These cataclysmic events moreover shape the interstellar medium and form large scale structures in the universe. 

Apr
11
2025

Nuclear reactions for Astrophysics and the opportunity of indirect methods featuring Marco La Cognata (INFN LNS, Italy)

Online

Seminars

Hosted by: Jakub Skowronski (University of Padua, Italy)

Abstract: Nuclear reactions among charged particles in stars take place at energies generally well below the Coulomb barrier, so the Coulomb barrier penetration factor exponentially suppresses the cross sections down to values as small as few nanobarns or picobarns. Therefore, approaching astrophysical energies opens new challenges and calls for new approaches.