26th Australian Institute of Physics Congress and the Australian and New Zealand Conference on Optics and Photonics

Session

AIP NUPP: Nuclear Physics 1

NUPP

7 Dec 2026, 11:30

Belinda Hutchinson Building (The University of Sydney )

Conveners

AIP NUPP: Nuclear Physics 1

• Robert Renz Marcelo Gregorio (Australian National University)

635. Overturning the Understanding of Superheavy Element Synthesis Reaction Dynamics Through Direct Measurements of Sequential Fission

Jacob Buete (The Australian National University)

07/12/2026, 11:30

AIP | Nuclear and Particle Physics (NUPP)

Contributed Oral

The formation of new superheavy elements (atomic number Z > 103) is one of the major achievement of nuclear physics. The exceptionally rare outcome of two nuclei colliding and forming a new compound nucleus faces strong competition from orders-of-magnitude more likely processes, including quasifission. Quasifission involves the reseparation of the the system into two fragments after capture,...

661. New Techniques to Identify Compound Nucleus Formation in Superheavy Element Synthesis Reactions

Sophie Hayles

07/12/2026, 11:45

AIP | Nuclear and Particle Physics (NUPP)

Contributed Oral

The formation of superheavy elements (atomic number Z $\geq$ 104) presents a valuable opportunity to expand our understanding of fundamental quantum and nuclear physics. At accelerator facilities, superheavy elements are synthesised by colliding two heavy ions with sufficient energy to overcome their mutual Coulomb repulsion. These nuclei may then undergo fusion (equilibrating in mass, energy,...

602. Colliding heavy nuclei have multiple identities on the path to fusion: moving towards a more complete picture of fusion

Kaitlin Cook (Australian National University)

07/12/2026, 12:00

AIP | Nuclear and Particle Physics (NUPP)

Contributed Oral

Experimental measurements of nuclear fusion have long indicated a fundamental problem with theoretical models of fusion. Measured capture cross-sections for heavy-ion collisions at energies well above and well below the barrier are systematically smaller than model calculations. This may have a dynamical origin: exchange of nucleons and the loss of kinetic energy outside the barrier...

423. Searching for triaxial deformation in exotic nuclei towards the neutron dripline

Luke Johnstone

07/12/2026, 12:15

AIP | Nuclear and Particle Physics (NUPP)

Contributed Oral

A leading challenge of nuclear-structure research is to understand the properties of nuclides with extreme isospin. Experiments at radioactive-ion-beam facilities, such as the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams in the US, may answer key questions that address diverse topics including fundamental nuclear physics, stellar nucleosynthesis and nuclear applications. The study of shapes in atomic...

711. Search for two-phonon γ-vibrational states in 162Dy through Coulomb excitation

Tom Perissinotto (The Australian National University)

07/12/2026, 12:30

AIP | Nuclear and Particle Physics (NUPP)

Contributed Oral

Until recently, many deformed nuclei have been considered to have excitations described by the collective model of Bohr and Mottelson. However, the interpretation that some states have a collective vibrational character has been challenged to the point that it is necessary to ask whether or not two-phonon excitations exist among the low-energy states of atomic nuclei. In particular,...

302. Fleeting finesse: precise nuclear g-factor measurements on picosecond-lifetime states

Brendan McCormick (Department of Nuclear Physics and Accelerator Applications, Research School of Physics, Australian National University)

07/12/2026, 12:45

AIP | Nuclear and Particle Physics (NUPP)

Contributed Oral

Trends in nuclear excited-state observables along isotopic or isotonic chains can reveal changing nuclear shell structure and emerging physics away from stability. Nuclear magnetic moments, or g factors, are an important observable for challenging nuclear shell-model predictions due to their sensitivity to the ratio between broken proton and neutron pairs and their orbital occupation....