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    Nuclear Astrophysics

    Research group:

    Nuclear Astrophysics 

    Scientific coordinator:

    Members:

    • Dr. Francesco Molitierno (PhD. Student)

    Research Keywords:

    • Nuclear Astrophysics
    • Recoil Mass Separator
    • Nuclear Physics
    • Radioactive Ion Beam
    • Mass spectrometry

    ERC Keywords:

    • PE2_4  Nuclear astrophysics 
    • PE2_3  Nuclear physics

    Research Profile:

    Nuclear Astrophysics 

    The Nuclear Astrophysics group investigates nuclear processes of astrophysical interest. Presently, the group is focused on two projects: ERNA (European Recoil for Nuclear Astrophysics) and ASBeST (A 7-Beryllium electron capture STudy for nuclear and solid state physics).

    • The ERNA project is funded by the Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare (INFN). The project aims to measure charged particle nuclear reactions  that play a crucial role in nucleosynthesis and stellar evolution. Several approaches  are used:
    • Measurements of the absolute cross section of radiative capture reactions are performed with the recoil mass separator. The ERNA separator is one of the small number of facilities in the world where online mass separation has been implemented for nuclear astrophysics experiments. Currently, the scientific program with the separator is focused on the 12C(α,γ)16O reaction.
    • Cross section measurements with charged particle spectroscopy exploit the GASTLY (GAs-Silicon Two-Layer sYstem) detector array. Reactions of astrophysical interest with charged particles in the exit channel are studied by means of the GASTLY detector array.
    • The isotopic composition of meteoritic samples and other terrestrial materials is investigated using Mass Spectrometry (MS). Isotopic ratios are   fingerprints of the astrophysical processes that produced them. Such information provides insight into the chemical evolution of the Solar System and our Galaxy. Measurements are made with conventional MS (IRMS or ICPMS) or AMS, as needed.

    Different Research Units (RU) are involved in the ERNA collaboration: University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, Department of Mathematics and Physics; University of Naples Federico II, Department of Physics; INFN-Naples; INFN-Rome. Other researchers from the following institutions are involved: Ruhr Universität Bochum (Germany); Institute for Nuclear Research (ATOMKI), Debrecen (Hungary); SUPA, School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Edinburgh (United Kingdom); Departamento de Física Nuclear, Instituto de Física da Universidade de São Paulo (Brazil).

    • The ASBeST project is founded by MUR call PRIN–2020. The project aims to study the 7Be electron capture decay for the first time under controlled conditions by exploiting two novel approaches. On one hand, measurements of the half-life of 7Be ions in different charge states will be performed using an intense 7Be ion beam and accelerator mass spectrometry techniques. On the other, the Stark effect in solids will be produced in Silicon Carbide (SiC) based electronic devices altering 7Be half-life. The results will be used to determine with high precision the nuclear matrix elements of the weak interaction, that will be compared with the outcome of a fully microscopic calculation. In addition, it is worth noting that the change of the 7Be decay rate has been demonstrated to have a significant impact in solar physics and neutrino physics. The project, due to its multidisciplinary nature, will be carried out thanks to the availability of skills and laboratories of high international qualification in the different Research Units: University of Campania-Department of Mathematics and Physics, CNR IMM Bologna, INFN Roma-LNGS, University of Salerno-Department of Engineering.

    Current research projects:

    1. Project 1 ERNA
      1.  ( link to the webpage of the project https://www.circe.unicampania.it/index.php/repository/ERNA/https://web.infn.it/ERNA/index.php/it/)

    1. Project 2 ASBeST
      1. (link to the webpage of the project  https://www.circe.unicampania.it/index.php/repository/asbest)

    Recent publications (2020-23):

    1. Buompane, R.; Di Leva, A.; Gialanella, L.; Imbriani, G.; Morales-Gallegos, L.; Romoli, M. Recent Achievements of the ERNA Collaboration. Universe 2022, 8 (2), 135. https://doi.org/10.3390/universe8020135.
    1. Buompane, R.; Di Leva, A.; Gialanella, L.; D’Onofrio, A.; De Cesare, M.; Duarte, J. G.; Fülöp, Z.; Gasques, L. R.; Gyürky, Gy.; Morales-Gallegos, L.; Marzaioli, F.; Palumbo, G.; Porzio, G.; Rapagnani, D.; Roca, V.; Rogalla, D.; Romoli, M.; Santonastaso, C.; Schürmann, D. Determination of the 7Be ( p , γ ) 8B Cross Section at Astrophysical Energies Using a Radioactive 7Be Ion Beam. Physics Letters B 2022, 824, 136819. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.physletb.2021.136819.
    1. Aliotta, M.; Buompane, R.; Couder, M.; Couture, A.; deBoer, R. J.; Formicola, A.; Gialanella, L.; Glorius, J.; Imbriani, G.; Junker, M.; Langer, C.; Lennarz, A.; Litvinov, Y. A.; Liu, W.-P.; Lugaro, M.; Matei, C.; Meisel, Z.; Piersanti, L.; Reifarth, R.; Robertson, D.; Simon, A.; Straniero, O.; Tumino, A.; Wiescher, M.; Xu, Y. The Status and Future of Direct Nuclear Reaction Measurements for Stellar Burning. J. Phys. G: Nucl. Part. Phys. 2022, 49 (1), 010501. https://doi.org/10.1088/1361-6471/ac2b0f.
    1. Badalà, A.; La Cognata, M.; Nania, R.; Osipenko, M.; Piantelli, S.; Turrisi, R.; Barion, L.; Capra, S.; Carbone, D.; Carnesecchi, F.; Casula, E. A. R.; Chatterjee, C.; Ciani, G. F.; Depalo, R.; Di Nitto, A.; Fantini, A.; Goasduff, A.; Guardo, G. L.; Kraan, A. C.; Manna, A.; Marsicano, L.; Martorana, N. S.; Morales-Gallegos, L.; Naselli, E.; Scordo, A.; Valdré, S.; Volpe, G.Trends in Particle and Nuclei Identification Techniques in Nuclear Physics Experiments. Riv. Nuovo Cim. 2022, 45 (3), 189–276. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40766-021-00028-5.
    1. Păceşilă, D.; Bishop, S.; Stanciu, I.; Enăchescu, M.; Petre, A. R.; Virgolici, M.; Iancu, D.; Ţugulan, L.; Done, L.; Petraglia, A.; Terrasi, F.; Marzaioli, F.; Porzio, G.; Buompane, R.; Gialanella, L. Ultrasensitive Detection of 244 Pu in Environmental Samples by Accelerator Mass Spectrometry. J. Anal. At. Spectrom. 2022, 37 (12), 2581–2588. https://doi.org/10.1039/D2JA00283C.
    1. Santonastaso, C.; Buompane, R.; Gialanella, L.; Di Leva, A.; Itaco, N.; Morales-Gallegos, L.; Rapagnani, D.; Neitzert, H. C.; Landi, G. Change in the Be Half-Life in Different Environments. Il Nuovo Cimento C 2021, 44 (203), 1–4. https://doi.org/10.1393/ncc/i2021-21075-8.
    1. Rapagnani, D.; De Cesare, M.; Buompane, R.; Del Vecchio, A.; Di Leva, A.; D’Onofrio, A.; Porzio, G.; Gialanella, L.Validation of a Novel Technique with Radioactive Implanted Ions for Material Recession Rate Estimate. J. Phys. D: Appl. Phys. 2021, 54 (32), 32LT01. https://doi.org/10.1088/1361-6463/ac006e.
    1. Pantaleo, F. R.; Boeltzig, A.; Best, A.; Perrino, R.; Aliotta, M.; Balibrea-Correa, J.; Barile, F.; Bemmerer, D.; Broggini, C.; Bruno, C. G.; Buompane, R.; Caciolli, A.; Cavanna, F.; Chillery, T.; Ciani, G. F.; et al. LUNA Collaboration. Low-Energy Resonances in the O 18 (p , γ) 19 F Reaction. Phys. Rev. C 2021, 104 (2), 025802. https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevC.104.025802.
    1. Terrasi, F.; Marzaioli, F.; Buompane, R.; Passariello, I.; Porzio, G.; Capano, M.; Helama, S.; Oinonen, M.; Nöjd, P.; Uusitalo, J.; Jull, A. J. T.; Panyushkina, I. P.; Baisan, C.; Molnar, M.; Varga, T.; Kovaltsov, G.; Poluianov, S.; Usoskin, I. CAN THE 14 C PRODUCTION IN 1055 CE BE AFFECTED BY SN1054? Radiocarbon 2020, 62 (5), 1403–1418. https://doi.org/10.1017/RDC.2020.58.
    1. Figuera, P.; Maugeri, E. A.; Buompane, R.; Cosentino, L.; Di Leva, A.; Di Pietro, A.; Fisichella, M.; Gialanella, L.; Heinitz, S.; Kivel, N.; Lattuada, M.; Marchetta, C.; Marletta, S.; Mascali, D.; Massara, A.; Schumann, D.; Tudisco, F. Development of an Intense 10Be Radioactive Beam in ‘off-Line Mode’ at the Catania Tandem Accelerator. Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment 2020, 972, 164120. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nima.2020.164120.
    1. Brandi, F.; Labate, L.; Rapagnani, D.; Buompane, R.; Leva, A. D.; Gialanella, L.; Gizzi, L. A. Optical and Spectroscopic Study of a Supersonic Flowing Helium Plasma: Energy Transport in the Afterglow. Sci Rep 2020, 10 (1), 5087. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-61988-y.

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