• 13 February 2026
  • 2:00 EST
 Nuclear physics constraints on the γ-ray signatures of core-collapse supernovae The long-lived γ-ray isotopes observed in supernova remnants serve as direct signatures of the nucleosynthesis processes occurring deep within core-collapse supernovae. However, transforming these observations into a clear understanding of explosion dynamics requires precise nuclear physics input. A prime example is the 13N(α,p)16O reaction, which has been identified as a major nuclear uncertainty affecting the production of observable isotopes such as 44Ti and various neutron-rich iron-group elements. In this talk, I will present a new measurement of the 13N(α,p)16O reaction cross section performed at the CRIB facility (RIKEN). By employing the thick-target inverse kinematics technique with a high-intensity radioactive 13N beam, we probed the astrophysically relevant energy range of Ec.m.≈1.2–5.0 MeV. I will discuss our experimental approach and share preliminary results from this campaign, illustrating how targeted nuclear physics measurements provide the critical data needed to refine nucleosynthesis models. These results are essential for improving the interpretation of current γ-ray data and enabling more accurate predictions for next-generation observatories, ultimately allowing us to use γ-ray signatures as detailed probes of stellar explosion physics. https://www.cenamweb.org/events/online-seminar-series
  • 16 February 2026
  • 11:00 EST
 Ab Initio Nuclear Theory for Physics Beyond the Standard Model Today, physicists build massive detectors to capture the faintest recoils of nuclei colliding with neutrinos and dark matter (DM). These experiments aim to enable high-precision tests of the Standard Model and to search for physics beyond the Standard Model (BSM). To meaningfully interpret such searches, accurate theoretical predictions of neutrino-nucleus and DM-nucleus cross sections are needed. However, these cross sections carry significant uncertainties, primarily because the nucleus is a complex many-body system composed of protons and neutrons held together by the strong force in a nonperturbative regime. Recent advancements in nuclear theory have made substantial progress in calculating nuclear properties and their responses to external electroweak probes. In particular, the use of chiral effective field theory in combination with modern computational tools, often referred to as the ab initio approach, provides the greatest promise for quantifying and reducing nuclear uncertainties. In this talk, I will first present an overview of nuclear response calculations for neutrino-nucleus and DM-nucleus elastic and inelastic scattering. I will then focus on recent progress in ab initio nuclear calculations that are advancing this frontier and enabling new insights into fundamental physics.
  • 13 March 2026
  • 3:00 EDT
 From Reliability to Innovation: The LANSCE Modernization Roadmap