Continue with FacebookLooking to list your PhD opportunities? Log in here.
About the Project
The number of fusion reactions that are critical for astrophysics is scarce. Among these, the 12C + 12C reaction that is essential for the life cycle of massive stars, may occur at different stages of stellar evolution: explosive scenarios like Type Ia supernovae which can be used as cosmological standard candles, quiescent carbon burning in the contracting core of a massive star at temperatures of the order of 1 GK, and densities above a million g/cm3 and possibly in superbursts of x-ray binary systems.
The obstacle to reliable extrapolation of the 12C + 12C cross section into the astrophysically relevant Gamow energy window is the presence of resonances in the cross section around the Coulomb barrier that continue down to the lowest collision energies accessible experimentally. This behaviour is strikingly different from the smooth variation in cross section as a function of energy typical of fusion in other heavy-ion systems.
The presence of resonances in the 12C + 12C reaction has been hotly debated for over 60 years. The conventional wisdom is that they correspond to the formation of short-lived molecular states, and this early suggestion has led on to far wider discussion of clustering in alpha-conjugate systems. However, this model remains controversial: an alternate picture is that the resonant behaviour is simply an artifact of the low level density of the 12C + 12C compound system.
Together with the IPHC Laboratory in Strasbourg, we have developed a dedicated experiment called STELLA for studying carbon burning in the laboratory using intense 12C beams. Initial studies led to a high impact publication and in the coming years, we intend to push down in energy to the region relevant to massive stars. This project will entail detector design and development, data taking and data analysis. There is scope also to model the astrophysical implications of the results. Extended data taking will take place at the IPN Orsay facility near Paris.
Academic entry requirements: at least a class 2:1 MSc or MPhys degree in Physics.
How to apply:
Applicants should apply via the University’s online application system at https://www.york.ac.uk/study/postgraduate-research/apply/. Please read the application guidance first so that you understand the various steps in the application process
Funding Notes
This is a self-funded project and you will need to have sufficient funds in place (eg from scholarships, personal funds and/or other sources) to cover the tuition fees and living expenses for the duration of the research degree programme. Please check the School of Physics, Engineering and Technology website View Website for details about funding opportunities at York.
Email Now
You haven’t included a message. Providing a specific message means universities will take your enquiry more seriously and helps them provide the information you need.
Why not add a message here
Why not add a message here
* required field
The information you submit to University of York will only be used by them or their data partners to deal with your enquiry, according to their privacy notice. For more information on how we use and store your data, please read our privacy statement.
Search suggestions
Based on your current searches we recommend the following search filters.
Check out our other PhDs in York, United Kingdom
Check out our other PhDs in United Kingdom
Start a New search with our database of over 4,000 PhDs
PhD suggestions
Based on your current search criteria we thought you might be interested in these.
Saving the planet through carbon recycling: engineering bacterial capture of gasified waste for bioplastics production
University of Nottingham
Carbon nanotubes in the boron neutron capture therapy of cancer
Kingston University
Enhancement of electrical conductivity of carbon fibre composite for resisting lightening strike on aircrafts
Kingston University