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Designer Nuclei: Connecting Femtoworld with the Universe - A lecture by Prof. Witold Nazarewicz

Thursday, October 20, 2022, at 1:00pm

The Kosciuszko Foundation and the Polish Institute of Arts and Sciences of America (PIASA) cordially invite you to the joint webinar honoring distinguished scientist, Professor of Physics at Michigan State University and at Warsaw University, Poland:

Prof. Witold Nazarewicz

The event will feature the presentation of the PIASA's Casimir Funk Natural Sciences Award to Prof. Nazarewicz, followed by his lecture:

Designer Nuclei

Connecting Femtoworld with the Universe 

Thursday, October 20, 2022, 1:00 PM 

The lecture is presented as part of the KF Collegium of Eminent Scientists Lecture Series; it is meant for a general audience. Free and open to the public. Space is limited. Registration required. 

The lecture will discuss the study of atomic nuclei, the core of matter and the fuel of stars.

At the forefront of subatomic research are efforts to characterize atomic nuclei, intriguing complexes of subatomic particles. Over the last decade, tremendous progress has been made in techniques to produce rare atomic nuclei with characteristics adjusted to specific research needs.  These so-called designer nuclei exist on a uniquely small scale (10^-15m) that is a million times smaller than the familiar atomic scale of nanotechnology (10^-9 m).

The study of these designer nuclei, i.e., Femtoscience, is extremely broad and diverse. It provides the link between our understanding of the fundamental constituents of nature and explanation of matter of which we and stars are made. Investigations of rare isotopes span the gamut from nuclear structure to astrophysics, tests of the fundamental laws of nature, and myriad applications. Nevertheless, it is characterized by several encompassing themes that reflect the major challenges facing modern science today, and it has deep links to many other fields. This lecture will offer a personal perspective on the fascinating field of designer nuclei. It will also discuss how the newly built Facility for Rare Isotope Beams at Michigan State University will transform the field.

Dr. Witold Nazarewicz is both a John A. Hannah Distinguished Professor of Physics at Michigan State University, and a professor of physics at Warsaw University, Poland. He is a Chief Scientist of the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams (FRIB) at MSU. Prior to joining MSU in 2014, he was the James McConnell Distinguished Professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Tennessee, and Corporate Fellow at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. During 1999-2012 he served as the Scientific Director of the ORNL Holifield Radioactive Ion Beam Facility. He received an Honorary Doctorate from University of the West of Scotland in 2009 and from University of York, UK in 2019. MORE

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