Isotopes and the Universe – precision measurements in nuclear physics

Jens Dilling
TRIUMF & University of British Columbia

Abstract

Major advancements in unstable (radioactive) isotope synthesis at accelerator facilities coupled with development of precision atomic physics techniques for quantum manipulation opens opportunities for direct studies of these short-lives species. Many of the current questions in modern physics can be connected to a detailed understanding of such isotopes. For example, the nuclear evolution in the universe leading to the observed element abundances in our solar system, or the nature of neutrinos and the decay mechanism in double beta decay, but also tests of symmetries in fundamental physics laws are possible with radioactive isotopes. In this talk, an overview is given of state of the art isotope production capabilities at the TRIUMF ISAC and future ARIEL facilities, I will introduce ion trap-based precision tools for spectrometry and highlight recent experiments.