About this Research Topic
From stellar evolution to stellar or non-stellar nucleosynthesis models, nuclear astrophysics is in high demand of a huge variety of high precision nuclear data, including nuclear mass, half-life, decay rate, and thermal nuclear reaction rate, to simulate the origin of elements in the Universe. Among these relevant data, the reaction rate, determined from the reaction cross sections, is crucial in almost all fields of nuclear science. In the last decades, impressive experimental and theoretical progress has been achieved, obtaining the cross sections of the nuclear reactions induced by neutrons, charged particles and photons, which are of interest for nuclear astrophysics.
Taking advantage of various nuclear facilities and improved techniques/tools, cross sections can be experimentally determined, both by indirect and direct methods, down to much lower energies compared to the past.
Meanwhile, significant efforts have been directed to improve predictions of the cross sections that cannot be experimentally determined. Phenomenological models have been used to evaluate the cross sections at the lower energies at which experiments cannot be conducted. Furthermore, microscopic theory has been developed to predict the reaction parameters, which has proved especially important to understand reactions involving unstable and exotic nuclei.
This Research Topic aims at collecting papers from a community of authors who have extensive experience in nuclear reaction measurement or well-established expertise in nuclear reaction theory and model calculation. The contributors are expected to describe their research, by reporting new measurement results or presenting state-of-the-art theoretical calculation, regarding the determination of the cross sections for astrophysical reactions. Meanwhile, the authors are also encouraged to review the recent progress and planned measurements and to provide their outlook for the future challenges in the study of nuclear astrophysical reactions.
In brief, this Research Topic will summarize the current status of experimental and theoretical studies on the reaction cross sections of interest for nuclear astrophysics and give insights into the future directions of this research field. Furthermore, it is also expected to provide comprehensive and valuable guidance for young scientists who intend to enter the discipline.
We welcome all article types: Brief Research Report, Hypothesis & Theory, Mini Review, Original Research, Perspective and Reviews.
Taking advantage of various nuclear facilities and improved techniques/tools, cross sections can be experimentally determined, both by indirect and direct methods, down to much lower energies compared to the past.
Meanwhile, significant efforts have been directed to improve predictions of the cross sections that cannot be experimentally determined. Phenomenological models have been used to evaluate the cross sections at the lower energies at which experiments cannot be conducted. Furthermore, microscopic theory has been developed to predict the reaction parameters, which has proved especially important to understand reactions involving unstable and exotic nuclei.
This Research Topic aims at collecting papers from a community of authors who have extensive experience in nuclear reaction measurement or well-established expertise in nuclear reaction theory and model calculation. The contributors are expected to describe their research, by reporting new measurement results or presenting state-of-the-art theoretical calculation, regarding the determination of the cross sections for astrophysical reactions. Meanwhile, the authors are also encouraged to review the recent progress and planned measurements and to provide their outlook for the future challenges in the study of nuclear astrophysical reactions.
In brief, this Research Topic will summarize the current status of experimental and theoretical studies on the reaction cross sections of interest for nuclear astrophysics and give insights into the future directions of this research field. Furthermore, it is also expected to provide comprehensive and valuable guidance for young scientists who intend to enter the discipline.
We welcome all article types: Brief Research Report, Hypothesis & Theory, Mini Review, Original Research, Perspective and Reviews.
Keywords: nuclear astrophysics, nuclear reactions, cross sections, nuclear measurement, nuclear models
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
