Diapositive 1

MINOS: Starting Grant 2010
PE2: fundamental constituents of matter
Alexandre Obertelli, CEA Saclay – DSM/IRFU/SPhN
Institut d’accueil: CEA/DSM
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MINOS: nuclear MagIc Numbers Off Stability
Alexandre Obertelli, CEA Saclay, DSM (France)
Interview, ERC Starting Grant 2010
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Curriculum vitae
Experimental nuclear physicist
32 years old, « starter » candidate
Chronology
• 2002-2005: PhD thesis at CEA Saclay
• 2006: postdoctoral position, NSCL (USA)
• since end of 2006: staff position at CEA Saclay
Nuclear shell structure
Science
Spokesperson of 6 accepted experiments within international collaborations
Development of new-generation detectors
32 publications in peer-reviewed journals, including 10 letters (230 citations)
50 oral presentations, including 13 invited talks
Supervision
2 PhD students (started in 2008 and 2009)
Master students on regular basis, laboratory lectures
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Update on scientific activities (2010)
Independant research, international collaborations
Nuclear shell structure
Shapes of neutron-deficient nuclei
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Spokesperson of two new experiments accepted in March-April 2010
Invited lecture, Erice, August 2010
Co-organizer, Joliot-Curie international school, September 2010
Shell structure of exotic nuclei
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Spokesperson of an experimental program at Ganil and NSCL
Initiator of new theoretical developments
Invited talk, ECT* conference center, April 2010
Co-organizer, international workshop on magic numbers, CEA Saclay, May 2010
Elected for two Egide grants in collaboration with Hungary and Poland, January 2010
Detector developments
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First experimental campaign with the AGATA demonstrator, Legnaro, June-July 2010
Coordinator of the AGATA-detector laboratory at CEA Saclay, 2009-2010
Co-initiator of CHyMENE, a thin solid hydrogen target for SPIRAL2, 2009-2010
Initiator and in charge of the development of a LH2 target for GSI, 2010
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My project
Forefront research on exotic nuclei
 Quest for new magic numbers
 Investigation of the astrophysical r-process path
 Develop an original detection-target system
 Fully exploit next-generation radioactive-beam facilities
 Impulse new approaches in reaction mechanisms
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MINOS: From the in-medium nuclear force …
Magic numbers: a fingerprint of the NN interaction
126
2p
1f
energy
0h
0h11/2
2s1/2
1d3/2
1d5/2
0g7/2
0g
50
1p
0f
28
20
8
0p
0s
New shell structure
still to be discovered
82
2s
1d
1s
0d
0i13/2
2p1/2
2p3/2
1f5/2
1f7/2
0h9/2
2
0g9/2
1p1/2
0f5/2
1p3/2
126
0f7/2
0d3/2
1s1/2
0d5/2
82
0p1/2
0p3/2
28
0s1/2
2
8
20
50
stable nuclei
known nuclei
unknown nuclei (prediction)
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… to the origin of elements
r-process: synthesis of heavy stable nuclei
Cassiopea A supernova
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Unique physics opportunities within the next decade
at the fragmentation facilities RIKEN (Japan) and GSI (Europe)
Discover new magic numbers far from stability
r-process path
protons
Production rates
110Zr
78Ni
54,60Ca
40Mg
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neutrons
In-beam g spectroscopy and knockout
In-beam g spectroscopy and knockout best to reveal new shell effects
Clear signature for (non-)magic nuclei
b spread
magic
b
not magic
target
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In-flight: velocity b needed for Doppler correction
b not measured in standard techniques
Target thickness: trade off between statistics and resolution
 a bottleneck for experimental sensitivity
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New method for high-resolution spectroscopy at < 1 Hz
Charged-particle tracker coupled to a thick H2 target:
determine the emitter velocity at the vertex inside the target
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High gain in sensitivity
MINOS+AGATA g spectrometer: gain >100 vs today’s capabilities
1 pps, 1 week of beam time
Larger statistics, better energy resolution & cleaner spectra
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Innovation
New experimental technique
Access to the velocity of emitter  experimental break-through
A technological challenge
Combination of state-of-the-art components / interdisciplinary developments
• Micromegas detectors: low detection threshold, fast (<100ns), transparent,
low cost and robust, cylindrical geometry
• Compact coupling to a large liquid H2 target with thin envelop
• Electronics: digital, integrated ASICs, several kHz triggers
Unique expertise at CEA/DSM/IRFU
Bulk Micromegas, CEA
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Agenda and funding
Project duration: 60 months
2011
2012
2014
2013
Simulations
R&D, conception
In-beam tests
Experiments
Theory
2015
RIKEN & GSI
Core research team (~5 people)
Principal Investigator (A. Obertelli)
Postdoc, experiment (5 years, ERC)
Postdoc, theory (3 years, ERC)
PhDs (3 years, ERC + other(s))
Engineers (technicians) (8(2) FTE, DSM)
ERC budget breakdown
Personnel
47%
Investment
Meetings /
workshops
9%
8%
36%
Experiments
Investment
Target, tracker, electronics,
slow control, mechanics
Requested funding to ERC:
1 434 720 €
Total eligible costs (ERC+DSM): 2 683 776 €
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Four reasons to support MINOS
1- Exciting physics program
the quest for new nuclear magic numbers off stability
2- Unique
original experimental approach and theoretical developments
3- Decisive period
new-generation radioactive-beam facilities now/soon operational
4- State-of-the-art technological expertise at CEA/DSM
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Présentation orale: ligne de conduite tenue [un point de vue]
1- CV [figure imposée] (2 transparents)
- Cadrer le domaine scientifique
- Mettre en valeur les responsabilités, les grandes lignes
- Eviter les détails
2- Introduction-conclusion: dire l’essentiel dès le début (1 transparent)
- Contexte et défis scientifiques
- Projet
3- Contexte scientifique et questions « clefs » (2 transparents)
4- Verrous technologiques à résoudre / opportunité scientifique (2 transparents)
[très spécifique]
5- Le projet (4 transparents)
- Expliquer sans détailler
- Mettre en valeur les gains attendus: résultats de physique, sensibilité
- Souligner les innovations en réponse aux verrous/opportunités
6- Agenda – financement (1 transparent)
7- conclusions: arguments clefs en faveur du projet (1 transparent)
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Questions / entretien
1- 17 personnes dans le comité (2 absents)
2- Rythme rapide (15-20 questions en 15 minutes)
3- Tous types de questions mais principalement sur le contexte scientifique
Ligne de conduite:
- Répondre de manière concise
- Reprendre si nécessaire la question en montrant une maitrise du contexte
- Ne pas critiquer les travaux d’autrui [conseil d’un lauréat 2009]
Opinion sur l’interview:
- L’avis des rapporteurs est essentiel
- Préparation: répéter devant des collègues / un auditoire (chefs d’institut/laboratoire)
- Lister une série de questions « évidentes » et savoir y répondre
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