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INTPART-International Partnerships for Excellent Education and Research

Nuclear shapes and resonances, Japan-Norway collaboration on research and education

Alternative title: Japansk-Norsk sammarbeid om forskning og utdanning: atomkjernens fasonger og resonanser.

Awarded: NOK 4.5 mill.

The INTPART project has strengthened the collaboration on research and education between the University of Oslo (UiO), the University of Tokyo, RIKEN Nishina Center for Accelerator-Based Science, Konan University, and Osaka University. A main objective and achievement of the project was to facilitate participation of Master and PhD students in excellent research projects in fundamental nuclear science. The Japanese partner institutions operate world-leading laboratories, including the Radioactive Ion Beam Factory (RIBF) at RIKEN Nishina Center, the Research Center for Nuclear Physics (RCNP) at Osaka University, and the gamma beam facility at the NewSUBARU storage ring at SPring-8. In Norway, UiO operates the Oslo Cyclotron Laboratory (OCL) with its unique detector infrastructure OSCAR. In addition to student participation in several experiments at these laboratories, the project facilitated visits of staff and experienced researchers, both in Norway and Japan, to discuss and plan new common research proposals and to guide students in their research work. Highlights of research projects with strong student participation through INTPART include studies of very exotic, neutron-rich nuclei at RIBF, and studies of nuclear resonances and cross sections at NewSUBARU. These research activities have led to several publications and contributed to Master and PhD theses at the participating institutions. Besides excellent experimental facilities, the participating Japanese institutions also host world-leading theory groups in nuclear physics, in particular at the University of Tokyo. Norwegian students strongly benefitted from interacting with these experts during short- and long-term visits in Japan, during visits of Japanese researchers in Oslo, and during advanced graduate schools within the INTPART collaboration. Several UiO master students have or had co-supervisors from Japanese partner institutions. INTPART facilitated extended visits for two UiO students at the University of Tokyo, working with their co-supervisors on theoretical calculations using the nuclear shell model, and another UiO student at Osaka University, working on medical applications of nuclear physics. A PhD student from Osaka University has visited Oslo on several occasions for collaboration. More student exchange was originally foreseen, but was hindered by the COVID-19 pandemic and travel restrictions. The INTPART project furthermore supported students to present their research at conferences both in Norway and in Japan. Senior researchers from participating institutions held collaboration meetings on several occasions, for example during the Oslo Workshops on Nuclear Level Density and Gamma Strength Functions in 2019 and 2022. An important outcome of the INTPART collaboration is the first application of the so-called Oslo Method, an experimental technique to study highly excited nuclei developed at OCL, with fast radioactive beams at RIBF. A proposal for an experiment was approved at RIKEN, and a first proof-of-principle experiment is scheduled to run in 2023. The INTPART collaboration furthermore enabled UiO to join the international PANDORA Collaboration, which is led by RCNP Osaka, and has the goal to measure photonuclear cross sections of importance for astrophysics. Another important objective was to collaborate on teaching and to develop intensive courses for master and PhD students from all participating universities. This activity benefitted from synergies with a similar INTPART collaboration between UiO and universities in South Africa and the USA. The UiO-Japan collaboration supported five advanced schools, two in Japan, one in Oslo, and two in South Africa. A sixth school could only be arranged on-line due to travel restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic. The schools were taught by international experts, including professors from Japanese partners and from UiO, over a period of two weeks. Participating students received 5 ECT credits from UiO. All schools had a strong focus on student-active learning and hands-on activities linked to the students’ research activities. The intense student cooperation and stimulating atmosphere during the schools created bonds between students of diverse cultural background and fostered professional networks between them. Several of the advanced schools that were developed within the INTPART collaboration are now regular courses at UiO, with the teaching material benefitting a new generation of students. The Norway-Japan INTPART project has strengthened the scientific collaboration between the partner institutions significantly. It has created unique opportunities for students to participate in excellent research activities, to learn about advanced topics from world-leading experts, and to establish their own international research network. It also resulted in exciting new research initiatives, which will further strengthen the cooperation between the partners in the future.

Impact: This Norway-Japan INTPART project has strengthened the scientific collaboration between the partner institutions significantly. It has created unique opportunities for students to participate in excellent research activities, to learn about advanced topics from world-leading experts, and to establish their own international research network. It also resulted in exciting new research initiatives, which will further strengthen the cooperation between the partners in the future. Outcome: INTPART facilitated extended visits for two UiO students at the University of Tokyo, working with their co-supervisors on theoretical calculations using the nuclear shell model, and another UiO student at Osaka University, working on medical applications of nuclear physics. A PhD student from Osaka University has visited Oslo on several occasions for collaboration. The project supported students to present their research at conferences both in Norway and in Japan, which has a positive impact on their academic future. Outcome: The project has facilitated participation of many Master and PhD students in excellent research projects in fundamental nuclear science. Highlights of research projects with strong student participation through INTPART include studies of very exotic, neutron-rich nuclei at RIBF, and studies of nuclear resonances and cross sections at NewSUBARU. These research activities have led to several publications and contributed to Masters and PhD theses at the participating institutions. Outcome: The project facilitated visits of staff and experienced researchers, both in Norway and Japan, to discuss and plan new common research proposals and to guide students in their research work. As a result an experiment at RIKEN, Japan was approved to use the Oslo Method in inverse kinematics. This is a huge opportunity as an experiment at RIKEN will allow us to study nuclear properties of very exotic nuclei and for many isotopes at once. The INTPART collaboration furthermore enabled UiO to join the international PANDORA Collaboration, which is led by RCNP Osaka, and has the goal to measure photonuclear cross sections of importance for astrophysics. Outcome: extensive collaboration on developing and teaching intensive courses for masters and PhD students: five advanced schools in-person and one on-line course. The schools were taught by international experts. Students received 5 ECT credits. All schools had a strong focus on student-active learning and hands-on activities linked to the students’ research activities. Some of these advanced schools are now regular courses at UiO.

The research project addresses some of the key questions of modern nuclear physics: How does the nuclear structure change with temperature? How do nuclear shapes and the shell structure evolve across the nuclear chart toward more exotic nuclei? Providing experimental data related to these questions is essential to benchmark and improve theoretical nuclear structure models. It can furthermore have an impact on nuclear astrophysics, helping to understand how heavy elements are made in the universe, and improve our understanding of reactions occurring in nuclear reactors. It includes experiments to study exotic nuclei at RIKEN, Japan, and complementary experiments at Springer 8, Japan and the Oslo Cyclotron. The INPART project aims to strengthen collaboration with RIKEN, University of Tokyo and Konan University. Both scientifically and for education. This project also aims to increase master and PhD student participation in cutting edge research, by supporting their travel to the experiments at RIKEN, Japan, Springer8, Japan and at the Oslo Cyclotron, Norway. We will also organize collaboration meetings, scientific workshops and intensive courses. Make student exchange at all levels easier, by getting good agreements in place between the Universities and pre-approved bachelor course packages. We will develop and teach intensive courses for master (and PhD) students which will give credits at all 3 universities. The project is divided in 3 work packages focused on Research, education and student exchange.

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Funding scheme:

INTPART-International Partnerships for Excellent Education and Research