Lectures in Nuclear Astrophysics:
Experiment, Theory and Observations

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Timothy C. Beers   Michigan State University, USA

Observations

Lecture 1:

The Identification of Metal-Poor Stars

• The Importance of Metal-Poor Stars
• Present Surveys for Metal-Poor Stars
• Future Surveys for Metal-Poor Stars

Lecture 2:

The Carbon- and Neutron-Capture-Rich Stars

• Abundance Patterns in Metal-Poor Stars
• The Carbon-Rich Stars
• Varieties of Neutron-Capture Rich Stars

Lecture 3:

Cosmo-Chronometry and Issues To Be Resolved

• Stars with Measurable Thorium and Uranium
• Cosmo-Chronometry
• Issues To Be Resolved

Fritz Bosch   GSI, Darmstadt, Germany

Measurement of Mass and Beta Lifetime of Stored and Cooled Exotic Nuclei

First the basic techniques and concepts of ion storage-cooler rings are presented, such as storing, beam-focusing and beam-cooling. In particular the main facets of electron cooling will be discussed, the cooling method being most successfully exploited in all operational ion storage-cooler rings.

In the second part it will be demonstrated why and how an ion cooler-ring connected with a device producing exotic nuclei - such as the coupled experimental storage ring (ESR) and fragment separator (FRS) at GSI in Darmstadt - is a unique tool to provide efficiently, precisely and with unrivalled sensitivity the ground-state properties of exotic nuclei, i.e. mass and (beta) lifetime. The two complementary methods of mass measurements, "Schottky mass spectrometry" for longer-lived and "isochronous mass spectrometry" for short-lived exotic nuclei, are visualized with plenty of data. Both methods have been developed and successfully applied at the ESR.

In the last part a worldwide unique potential of the ESR is demonstrated, namely the measurement of beta decays of highly-charged exotic ions, including the first observation of bound-state beta decay. This exotic mode of beta decay, being marginal for neutral atoms, becomes important in hot stellar plasmas during nucleosynthesis. As a striking example, the impact of bound-state beta decay on the nuclear "eon clock" ¹⁸⁷Re /¹⁸⁷Os and, connected therewith, on the determination of the age of our Milky Way galaxy and of the universe will be outlined.

In the afternoon exercises we will discuss together concrete examples of ion optics (Hill equation, betatron oscillations, ...), electron cooling (cooling force, cooling times, phase transition to an ordered linear ion chain, ...), mass measurements (Schottky- and isochronous mass spectrometry, mass resolving power, sensitivity, ...) and of age determination by means of nuclear "eon clocks" (method of isochrones, constraints for the age of our Milky Way galaxy from the Schramm-Wasserburg model, estimates for the age of the universe, ...).

Barry Davids   TRIUMF

Indirect Measurements

Topic 1:

Thermonuclear Reaction Rates

Topic 2:

Introductory Ion Optics and Charged Particle Spectrometers

Topic 3:

Indirect Methods in Nuclear Astrophysics

Christian G. Iliadis   University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, USA

Direct Measurements

Lecture 1:

• Cross Sections
• Reaction Rates
• Lifetimes
• S-factors
• Nonresonant and Resonant Processes
• Inverse Reactions
• Simple Equilibria
• etc.

Lecture 2:

• Experimental Equipment
• Target Chambers
• Targets
• Detectors
• Accelerators

Lecture 3:

• Interaction of Radiation With Matter
• Photons
• Heavy Particles
• Neutrons
• Attenuation Coefficients
• Stopping Powers

Lecture 4:

• Nuclear Spectroscopy (charged particles, gamma-rays, neutrons)
• Experiments

Lecture 5:

• Background reduction techniques and other topics

Bradley S. Meyer   Clemson University, South Carolina, USA

Stellar Evolution

Lecture 1:

Introduction and Hydrostatic Equilibrium

Lecture 2:

The Equation of State

Lecture 3:

Energy Transport

Lecture 4:

Solving for Stellar Structure

Lecture 5:

Stellar Evolution

Registration

The registration form [ PDF (18 KB) , gzipped PostScript (27 KB) , PostScript (51 KB) ] should be downloaded, completed and faxed to Elly Driessen at TRIUMF. Please note that the number of participants will be limited to 40. Unfortunately, we are unable to provide financial support to cover travel or subsistence expenses.

Accommodation

The above rate will only be available if the accommodation request is received before June 4, 2004. (Note that July is high tourist season in Vancouver. At that time it is very difficult to find accommodations in this price range anywhere in the city.)

The accommodation form [ PDF (117 KB) ] should be downloaded, completed and faxed or mailed to the Reservations Office, Conferences and Accommodation at UBC, NOT to TRIUMF.

Travel Arrangements

Vancouver can be reached by air (Vancouver International Airport - YVR ), rail, bus, car, or boat. There is bus and taxi service for transportation between the airport, downtown, and the UBC campus. See this link for details.

Some current exchange rates are (as of January 2004):
CDN$1 = US$0.77   ;   CDN$1 = Euro 0.61   ;   CDN$1 = £0.42

Organizing Committee

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