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1. A Vision for the Science of Rare Isotopes

   Crawford, H; Fossez, K; Konig, S; Spyrou, A (May 2024, Annual review of nuclear and particle science)

   The field of nuclear science has considerably advanced since its begin- ning just over a century ago. Today, the science of rare isotopes is on the cusp of a new era with theoretical and computing advances comple- menting experimental capabilities at new facilities internationally. In this article we present a vision for the science of rare isotope beams (RIBs). We do not attempt to cover the full breadth of the field, but rather provide a perspective and address a selection of topics that re- flect our own interests and expertise. We focus in particular on systems near the drip lines, where one often finds nuclei that are referred to as “exotic,” and where the role of the “nuclear continuum” is only just starting to be explored. An important aspect of this article is the at- tempt to highlight the crucial connections between nuclear structure and nuclear reactions required to fully interpret and leverage the rich data to be collected in the next years at RIB facilities. Further, we con- nect the e↵orts in structure and reactions to key questions of nuclear astrophysics. 

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2. Optical potentials for the rare-isotope beam era

   https://doi.org/10.1088/1361-6471/acc348  

   Hebborn, C.; Nunes, F. M.; Potel, G.; Dickhoff, W. H.; Holt, J. W.; Atkinson, M. C.; Baker, R. B.; Barbieri, C.; Blanchon, G.; Burrows, M.; et al (April 2023, Journal of Physics G: Nuclear and Particle Physics)

   Abstract We review recent progress and motivate the need for further developments in nuclear optical potentials that are widely used in the theoretical analysis of nucleon elastic scattering and reaction cross sections. In regions of the nuclear chart away from stability, which represent a frontier in nuclear science over the coming decade and which will be probed at new rare-isotope beam facilities worldwide, there is a targeted need to quantify and reduce theoretical reaction model uncertainties, especially with respect to nuclear optical potentials. We first describe the primary physics motivations for an improved description of nuclear reactions involving short-lived isotopes, focusing on its benefits for fundamental science discoveries and applications to medicine, energy, and security. We then outline the various methods in use today to build optical potentials starting from phenomenological, microscopic, andab initiomethods, highlighting in particular, the strengths and weaknesses of each approach. We then discuss publicly-available tools and resources facilitating the propagation of recent progresses in the field to practitioners. Finally, we provide a set of open challenges and recommendations for the field to advance the fundamental science goals of nuclear reaction studies in the rare-isotope beam era. This paper is the outcome of the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams Theory Alliance (FRIB-TA) topical program ‘Optical Potentials in Nuclear Physics’ held in March 2022 at FRIB. Its content is non-exhaustive, was chosen by the participants and reflects their efforts related to optical potentials. 

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3. Exploding stars and the synthesis of heavy elements: Introducing the facility for rare isotope beams

   https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0175775  

   Spyrou, Artemis (January 2023, AIP Conference Proceedings)

   Since its birth roughly 60 years ago, the field of nuclear astrophysics has strived to provide a comprehensive description of element synthesis in the Universe. While some of the astrophysical processes responsible for stellar nucleosynthesis are well understood, others remained elusive for decades. One of the major open questions in the field centered on the production of elements heavier than iron. An important breakthrough happened in 2017 when gravitational wave and electromagnetic observatories around the world and in space detected for the first time the merging of two neutron stars and the subsequent production of heavy elements. The puzzle, however, is far from solved. Interpreting the observations requires understanding the nuclear processes that drive these events. My work focuses on the measurement of critical nuclear properties needed to explain neutron-star mergers and other astrophysical observations. In this article, I discuss recent experiments performed at the National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory at Michigan State University, as well as new initiatives and plans to undertake work at the next-generation rare isotope facility, the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams. 

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4. Threshold effects in the 10B(p,α)7Be, 12C(p,γ)13N and 14N(p,γ)15O reactions

   https://doi.org/10.3389/fphy.2022.1009489  

   Wiescher, M.; deBoer, R.J.; Görres, J. (October 2022, Frontiers in Physics)

   The typical energy range for charge particle interactions in stellar plasmas corresponds to a few 10s or 100s of keV. At these low energies, the cross sections are so vanishingly small that they cannot be measured directly with accelerator based experimental techniques. Thus, indirect studies of the compound structure near the threshold are used in the framework of reaction models to complement the direct data in order to extrapolate the cross section into the low energy regime. However, at the extremely small cross sections of interest, there maybe other quantum effects that modify the such extracted cross section. These may result from additional nuclear interactions associated with the threshold itself or could be due to other processes, such as electron screening. Measurements in plasma environments like at the OMEGA or National Ignition Facility facilities offer an entirely new set of experimental conditions for studying these types of reactions, often directly at the energies of interest. In this paper, we examine three reaction, 10 B( p , α ) 7 Be, 12 C( p , γ ) 13 N and 14 N( p , γ ) 15 O, which have all been measured at very low energies using accelerator based methods. All three reactions produce relatively long-lived radioactive nuclei, which can be collected and analyzed at plasma facilities using a variety of collection and identification techniques. 

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5. Opportunities for fundamental physics research with radioactive molecules

   https://doi.org/10.1088/1361-6633/ad1e39  

   Arrowsmith-Kron, Gordon; Athanasakis-Kaklamanakis, Michail; Au, Mia; Ballof, Jochen; Berger, Robert; Borschevsky, Anastasia; Breier, Alexander A; Buchinger, Fritz; Budker, Dmitry; Caldwell, Luke; et al (July 2024, Reports on Progress in Physics)

   Molecules containing short-lived, radioactive nuclei are uniquely positioned to enable a wide range of scientific discoveries in the areas of fundamental symmetries, astrophysics, nuclear structure, and chemistry. Recent advances in the ability to create, cool, and control complex molecules down to the quantum level, along with recent and upcoming advances in radioactive species production at several facilities around the world, create a compelling opportunity to coordinate and combine these efforts to bring precision measurement and control to molecules containing extreme nuclei. In this manuscript, we review the scientific case for studying radioactive molecules, discuss recent atomic, molecular, nuclear, astrophysical, and chemical advances which provide the foundation for their study, describe the facilities where these species are and will be produced, and provide an outlook for the future of this nascent field. 

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