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Alexandre Obertelli, CEA Saclay – DSM/IRFU/SPhN

MINOS: Starting Grant 2010

PE2: fundamental constituents of matter

Institut d’accueil: CEA/DSM

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MINOS: nuclear MagIc Numbers Off Stability

Alexandre Obertelli, CEA Saclay, DSM (France) Interview, ERC Starting Grant 2010

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Science Spokesperson of 6 accepted experiments within international collaborations

Development of new-generation detectors

32 publications in peer-reviewed journals, including 10 letters (230 citations)

50 oral presentations, including 13 invited talks

Supervision 2 PhD students (started in 2008 and 2009)

Master students on regular basis, laboratory lectures

Experimental nuclear physicist 32 years old, « starter » candidate

Nuclear shell structure

Chronology • 2002-2005: PhD thesis at CEA Saclay

• 2006: postdoctoral position, NSCL (USA)

• since end of 2006: staff position at CEA Saclay

Curriculum vitae

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Update on scientific activities (2010)

Nuclear shell structure

Shapes of neutron-deficient nuclei • Spokesperson of two new experiments accepted in March-April 2010

• Invited lecture, Erice, August 2010

• Co-organizer, Joliot-Curie international school, September 2010

Shell structure of exotic nuclei • Spokesperson of an experimental program at Ganil and NSCL

• Initiator of new theoretical developments

• Invited talk, ECT* conference center, April 2010

• Co-organizer, international workshop on magic numbers, CEA Saclay, May 2010

• Elected for two Egide grants in collaboration with Hungary and Poland, January 2010

Detector developments • First experimental campaign with the AGATA demonstrator, Legnaro, June-July 2010

• Coordinator of the AGATA-detector laboratory at CEA Saclay, 2009-2010

• Co-initiator of CHyMENE, a thin solid hydrogen target for SPIRAL2, 2009-2010

• Initiator and in charge of the development of a LH2 target for GSI, 2010

Independant research, international collaborations

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Forefront research on exotic nuclei

Quest for new magic numbers

Investigation of the astrophysical r-process path

Develop an original detection-target system

Fully exploit next-generation radioactive-beam facilities

Impulse new approaches in reaction mechanisms

My project

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MINOS: From the in-medium nuclear force …

Magic numbers: a fingerprint of the NN interaction

126

82

8 20

28 50

2

energ

y

20

2

8

0s

0p

0d 1s

0f 1p

0g

0s1/2

0p3/2

0p1/2

0d5/2

1s1/2

0d3/2

0f7/2

1p3/2

0f5/2

0g9/2

1p1/2

0g7/2

28

50

1d 2s

82 0h

126

1f

2p

1d5/2

1d3/2

2s1/2

0h11/2

0h9/2

1f7/2

1f5/2

2p3/2

2p1/2

0i13/2

New shell structure

still to be discovered

stable nuclei

known nuclei

unknown nuclei (prediction)

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… to the origin of elements

r-process: synthesis of heavy stable nuclei

Cassiopea A supernova

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Unique physics opportunities within the next decade

at the fragmentation facilities RIKEN (Japan) and GSI (Europe)

neutrons

pro

tons

r-process path

Production rates

Discover new magic numbers far from stability

110Zr

78Ni

40Mg

54,60Ca

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In-beam g spectroscopy and knockout best to reveal new shell effects

In-beam g spectroscopy and knockout

Target thickness: trade off between statistics and resolution

a bottleneck for experimental sensitivity

b spread

target

magic

not magic 28

Clear signature for (non-)magic nuclei

In-flight: velocity b needed for Doppler correction

b not measured in standard techniques

b

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Charged-particle tracker coupled to a thick H2 target:

determine the emitter velocity at the vertex inside the target

New method for high-resolution spectroscopy at < 1 Hz

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MINOS+AGATA g spectrometer: gain >100 vs today’s capabilities

Larger statistics, better energy resolution & cleaner spectra

1 pps, 1 week of beam time

High gain in sensitivity

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Innovation

New experimental technique Access to the velocity of emitter experimental break-through

A technological challenge Combination of state-of-the-art components / interdisciplinary developments

• Micromegas detectors: low detection threshold, fast (<100ns), transparent,

low cost and robust, cylindrical geometry

• Compact coupling to a large liquid H2 target with thin envelop

• Electronics: digital, integrated ASICs, several kHz triggers

Unique expertise at CEA/DSM/IRFU

Bu

lk M

icro

me

ga

s, C

EA

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Agenda and funding

2011 2012 2013 2014 2015

Simulations

R&D, conception

In-beam tests

Experiments

Theory

Requested funding to ERC: 1 434 720 €

Total eligible costs (ERC+DSM): 2 683 776 €

Core research team (~5 people)

Principal Investigator (A. Obertelli)

Postdoc, experiment (5 years, ERC)

Postdoc, theory (3 years, ERC)

PhDs (3 years, ERC + other(s))

Engineers (technicians) (8(2) FTE, DSM)

Investment

Target, tracker, electronics,

slow control, mechanics

Project duration: 60 months

ERC budget breakdown

8%9%

36%

47%Personnel

Investment

Meetings /

workshops

Experiments

RIKEN & GSI

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Four reasons to support MINOS

1- Exciting physics program

the quest for new nuclear magic numbers off stability

2- Unique

original experimental approach and theoretical developments

3- Decisive period

new-generation radioactive-beam facilities now/soon operational

4- State-of-the-art technological expertise at CEA/DSM

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Présentation orale: ligne de conduite tenue [un point de vue]

1- CV [figure imposée] (2 transparents)

- Cadrer le domaine scientifique

- Mettre en valeur les responsabilités, les grandes lignes

- Eviter les détails

2- Introduction-conclusion: dire l’essentiel dès le début (1 transparent)

- Contexte et défis scientifiques

- Projet

3- Contexte scientifique et questions « clefs » (2 transparents)

4- Verrous technologiques à résoudre / opportunité scientifique (2 transparents)

[très spécifique]

5- Le projet (4 transparents)

- Expliquer sans détailler

- Mettre en valeur les gains attendus: résultats de physique, sensibilité

- Souligner les innovations en réponse aux verrous/opportunités

6- Agenda – financement (1 transparent)

7- conclusions: arguments clefs en faveur du projet (1 transparent)

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Questions / entretien

1- 17 personnes dans le comité (2 absents)

2- Rythme rapide (15-20 questions en 15 minutes)

3- Tous types de questions mais principalement sur le contexte scientifique

Ligne de conduite:

- Répondre de manière concise

- Reprendre si nécessaire la question en montrant une maitrise du contexte

- Ne pas critiquer les travaux d’autrui [conseil d’un lauréat 2009]

Opinion sur l’interview:

- L’avis des rapporteurs est essentiel

- Préparation: répéter devant des collègues / un auditoire (chefs d’institut/laboratoire)

- Lister une série de questions « évidentes » et savoir y répondre