Experimental Nuclear Physics, Applications and Instrumentation (ENPAI)

Exploring the Fundamentals:

The ENPAI research group delves into the core of nuclear science, investigating its fundamental building blocks through three key research lines:

1. Basic Nuclear Data Measurements:

• Goal: Acquire crucial data to comprehend nuclear reactions and decay processes.
• Examples:
• Characterizing neutron capture cross-sections, half-lives, and delayed neutron emission probabilities.
• Measuring neutrons of cosmic origin and alpha-induced neutron emissions.
• Applications: These measurements contribute significantly to diverse fields like nuclear reactor design and stellar nucleosynthesis.

2. Detector Design and Construction:

• Goal: Develop and build specialized detectors tailored to specific experimental requirements.
• Examples:
• High-efficiency neutron detectors like BELEN for measuring delayed neutrons.
• HENSA and LINrem for characterizing neutron fields.

3. Electronic Instrumentation:

• Goal: Design and refine electronic systems to control and analyze data from detectors, ensuring accurate and efficient measurements.
• Examples: Developing specialized electronics specifically for neutron detectors.

A Legacy of Collaboration:

• The ENPAI research group was established in 2000 as a result of an international collaboration that designed and championed the building of CERN's n_TOF facility, dedicated to measuring neutron-induced nuclear reactions.
• Over the years, the group has actively participated in various international projects like n_TOF, FAIR, BRIKEN and MANY, contributing substantially to advancements in nuclear physics research.
• ENPAI primarily receives funding through national and European competitive research grants.

The Driving Force: Scientific Motivation

Understanding nuclear processes necessitates a deep grasp of three critical parameters:

• Microscopic Cross Sections: The probability of a specific nuclear reaction occurring when a nucleus interacts with neutrons, alpha particles, etc.
• Decay Constants: The rate at which unstable nuclei decay over time.
• Delayed Neutron Emission Probabilities: The probability of a neutron being emitted after a nucleus undergoes beta decay.

Acquiring this knowledge is crucial in various domains, including:

• Nuclear reactor design
• Stellar evolution studies
• Medical applications

Furthermore, designing and building specialized detectors plays a vital role not only in acquiring accurate data for fundamental studies but also in:

• Measuring neutron fields in underground laboratories and research facilities.
• Applications in hadron therapy.

Current Research Landscape:

The ENPAI group actively engages in a diverse range of research activities:

• Cross-section measurements
• P_n measurements
• Measuring neutron fields in various settings, including secondary neutrons produced by cosmic rays, underground laboratories, research facilities, and hadron therapy facilities.
• Investigating the spectrometric behavior of BELEN-like neutron detectors.
• Developing advanced neutron dosimeters.
• Implementing Artificial Intelligence in signal processing and data analysis.
• Designing electronic modules for neutron detectors.

Through its diverse research lines, international collaborations, and unwavering commitment to innovation, ENPAI plays a crucial role in advancing our understanding of the fundamental principles of nuclear science, while simultaneously developing novel detectors for practical applications.