A nucleus sits at the centre of every atom, making up 99.9% of the mass of everything we see, yet the force that holds it together remains poorly understood. This research tackles a fundamental gap in physics: how protons and neutrons interact inside the nucleus. The nucleus is a unique system—too small to be solved from first principles, too complex for simple statistics. The recent arrival of accelerated radioactive beams has opened a new window into this problem, allowing scientists to study exotic nuclei that do not exist naturally on Earth. The UK group behind this grant is one of the largest in the country, and its newly established theory team provides essential underpinning for the experimental work. This is fundamental science with no immediate practical application. However, understanding nuclear forces is essential for explaining how stars generate energy and how stellar explosions forge heavy elements such as gold and uranium. Past fundamental nuclear research has led to breakthroughs in medical imaging, cancer therapy, and nuclear energy. A deeper grasp of the strong force could eventually underpin new materials, more precise nuclear models, or novel energy technologies—though those applications remain decades away.
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Nuclear Physics is the study of the heavy but tiny nucleus that lies at the centre of all atoms and makes up 99.9% by mass of everything we see. The nucleus forms a fascinating laboratory for study, falling between the extremes of systems with a handful of particles, which can be solved from first principles, and systems with thousands of particles whose properties can be treated statistically. Indeed, the nucleus is a unique mesoscopic quantal system that is composed of two types of interacting fermions in which the underlying force is poorly understood. As such it provides an extremely important testing ground for models that attempt to predict the properties of nuclei. The individual protons and neutrons in the nucleus can strongly dictate the properties of the nucleus as a whole. Although a mature field, nuclear physics poses an array of very challenging questions and the recent advent of accelerated radioactive beams has reinvigorated this research area. Increasingly important is the application of our understanding of nuclear physics to astrophysical questions, where it can help to understand energy generation in stars as well as the heavy elements synthesised in stellar explosions. The present consolidated grant represents the concerted efforts of one of the largest nuclear physics groups in the UK. The activity is notable for its depth and breadth, as well for the strong involvement of underpinning theory through our recently-established theory group.
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