Scientific Rationale

 NIC-IX Satellite Workshop in Collaboration with JINA on Compiled Data Requirements for Modeling in Nuclear Astrophysics

Content of the Meeting:
While the NIC-IX Conference will cover general issues of observations, astrophysical modeling, nuclear theory and experiments, there is a basic need in all astrophysical modeling to have access to the best available and most consistent input data. Examples in stellar modeling and nucleosynthesis relate to the equation of state, opacities, reaction libraries of strong and weak nuclear reactions (including capture, exchange, photodisintegration, decays, induced fission, electron/positron capture, neutrino-nucleon and neutrino-nucleus reactions) and nuclear masses. In the growing field of the (chemical) evolution of galaxies, there is the need to compare to stellar abundances at low metallicities, where by now a large data base of often duplicate observations is available, with compilations of theoretical yields from stellar evolution and explosions. 

In all these cases there exist the questions a. how to define the data needs, b. point to experimental/observational or theoretical sources, c. define a procedure how to perform quality accessment. In the field of opacities there exist huge efforts by the US National Labs and by the British Opacity project. Experimental reaction rates were collected and analyzed in pioneering efforts by Willy Fowler, followed by a new assessment of the NACRE collaboration. Similar efforts were undertaken by theoretical and experimental groups (e.g. REACLIB/Basel, FFN/LANL, BRUSLIB/ULB and recent additions, specially in the area of weak interactions and fission) to provide the remaining missing information. Particularly noteworthy are recent efforts at Livermore towards a reaction compilation, at Oak Ridge, for developing the necessary tools for compilation and semination, as well as by JINA to establish an on-line reaction rate library for the broader user community. In the field of stellar abundance observations such efforts are still in their infancy but first steps are presently being initited. 

The main focus of this workshop is to bring together (experimental and theoretical) data providers, experienced experts on an unbiased analysis, and the modelers who are in urgent need of utilizing the best available data input. The goal is to identify the data needs of the community in terms of type and form of data, and to discuss ongoing projects and future strategies to meet those needs. Other important points that we plan to discuss are strategies for data evaluation and quality control, the importance of evaluation standards, credit for data providers and many more. 

International Advisory Board:
JINA: Tim Beers (MSU), Hendrik Schatz (MSU), Michael Wiescher (Notre Dame);
CARINA: C. Angulo (Louvain la Neuve), 
VISTARS: K.-L. Kratz (U. Mainz), 
Rob Hoffman (Lawrence Livermore National Lab.), G. Martinez-Pinedo (GSI Darmstadt), K. Nomoto (U. Tokyo), I. Panov (ITEP, Moscow), Michael Smith (Oak Ridge National Lab.), 

LOC: Eva Grebel, Raphael Hirschi, Matthias Liebendoerfer, Thomas Rauscher, Friedrich-K. Thielemann 

PROGRAM STRUCTURE

A number of program blocks with one (minimum) to three (maximum) review speakers (30min each) plus about one hour of joint discussions, involving everybody and his/her expertise. The review speakers should lay out in detail: 

  • 1. the basic physical/astronomical question 
  • 2. the available experimental/observational/theoretical data sets 
  • 3. give an educated comparison and outline uncertainties 
  • 4. provide strategies for improvements and name existing efforts 
  • 5. discuss userfriendlyness of provided data/compilations 

Friday

10:30amWelcome & Introduction
11am-1pmProgram Block A (Chair: C. Angulo)

EXP. CROSS SECTIONS FOR HYDROSTATIC AND EXPLOSIVE BURNING
Two review speakers focusing on hydrostatic and explosive charged particle reactions as well as neutron induced reactions:
C. Iliadis (North Carolina), F. Kaeppeler (Karlsruhe)
+ one hour joint discussion 
1-2pmBuffet lunch
2-4pmProgram Block B (R. Hoffman)

NUCLEOSYNTHESIS IN STELLAR EVOLUTION AND EXPLOSIONS: ABUNDANCE YIELDS FOR CHEMICAL EVOLUTION 
Two review speakers on yields from massive stars and on AGB yields:
M. Limongi (Rome), J. Lattanzio (Melbourne)
+ one hour joint discussion
4:00-4:30pmCoffee break
4:30-6:30pmProgram Block C (E. Grebel)

ABUNDANCE OBSERVATIONS IN STARS AS A FUNCTION OF METALLICITY:
Two review speakers on existing abundance tables and abundance uncertainties:
T. Beers (East Lansing), M. Asplund* (Canberra)
+ one hour joint discussion
8pmJOINT DINNER in Restaurant "Zum Goldenen Sternen"
(For those interested to join the globular cluster satellite meeting in Geneva the next day, there is a 7:05pm train arriving in Geneva 9:47pm)

Saturday

9am-10:45amProgram Block D (F.-K. Thielemann)

THEORETICAL PREDICTIONS OF THERMONUCLEAR RATES
Two review speakers on statistical methods (Hauser-Feshbach) and on direct reactions and resonances:
T. Rauscher (Basel), P. Descouvemont (Brussels)
+ 45 min of joint discussion 
10:45-11amCoffee break
11-12:45pmProgram Block E (a: D. Nadyozhin, b: R. Hix)

NUCLEAR PHYSICS IN CORE COLLAPSE:
(a) THE EQUATION OF STATE 
Two review speakers: one EOS provider, one user:
J. Lattimer (Stony Brook) + M. Liebendörfer (Basel)
+ 45 min of joint discussion
12:45-2:15pmLunch
2:15-3:45pm(b) WEAK INTERACTIONS: 
One review speaker on e-capture and neutrino-induced reactions:
K. Langanke (Darmstadt)
+ 45 min of joint discussion
3:45-4:15pmCoffee break
4:15-6:45pmProgram Block F (H. Schatz)

In honour of K.-L. Kratz's 65th birthday

PROCESSES FAR FROM STABILITY: MASSES, FISSION, HALF-LIVES
Three review speakers on half-lives, masses/fission barriers:
K.-L. Kratz (Mainz), P. Moeller (Los Alamos), K.H. Schmidt (GSI)
+ one hour of joint discussion
6:45-7:15pmProgram Block G (R. Azuma)

EXISTING EFFORTS, STRATEGIES, ACCURACY TESTS, AGREED EVALUATION METHODS, PREFERRED DATA FORMATS ......
One opening review talk: M. Smith (Oak Ridge)
7:15pm-?FREE EVENING IN BASEL

Sunday

9:30am-12pmProgram Block G (M. Wiescher)

JOINT DISCUSSION ON

EXISTING EFFORTS, STRATEGIES, ACCURACY TESTS, AGREED EVALUATION METHODS, PREFERRED DATA FORMATS ......

This can include short presentations of other efforts and should lead to defined strategies

(This can be continued in a voluntary evening session during NIC IX in Geneva)
12-12:30Sandwich lunch
12:30JOINT BUS TRANSPORT TO GENEVA WITH STOP IN THE NICE SCENERY OF GRUYERE AND A TASTEFUL COFFEE BREAK AND E.G. MERINGUES
6pmARRIVAL IN GENEVA

Talks

Here are the final circular and the talks in either ppt or pdf formats: