The goal of nuclear astrophysics is to understand the nuclear processes that govern galactic chemical evolution, by means of experiments and observations on Earth. Nuclear reaction cross sections are crucial ingredients for understanding the role of the reactions at play, but measurements of the small cross sections of charged-particle reactions typically come with great experimental challenges.
With their natural rock overburden, underground accelerator laboratories offer unique environments for high-sensitivity studies of nuclear reactions, shielded from cosmic radiation. Several new underground accelerators have taken up operation for nuclear astrophysics studies in recent years, thus greatly expanding the range of available beam intensities, ion species, and beam energies underground.
The seminar will introduce the advantages and challenges of going underground for measurements of radiative capture reactions, present an overview of the landscape of underground accelerator facilities, and highlight recent results, new opportunities and challenges at these new facilities.
