Professor Thomas Papenbrock of the University of Tennessee Physics Department will present a talk titled "The atomic nucleus — core of matter, fuel of stars".
The atomic nucleus is the tiny center of an atom that carries almost all its mass. It consists of protons and neutrons and is held together by the strong force. Contemporary research in atomic nuclei focuses on rare isotopes, i.e. short-lived nuclei that exhibit an unusual ratio of protons and neutrons. Studies of rare isotopes inform us about unknown details of the strong force, about the origin of elements heavier than iron, and the fate of massive stars. This presentation aims to give a short overview of the exciting questions in contemporary research in the physics of nuclei.