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On the origin of the elements: from the big-bang to exotic nuclei
Prof. Kris Heyde
Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Ghent
ABSTRACT:
Our world is made up from the elements of Hydrogen up to Uranium. How have these
elements formed, what is their origin? We shall discuss the important steps in time at which
the very lightest elements, such as H, He, Be and Li were synthesized in the early universe,
just after the Big Bang. All other elements have and are formed in the interior of stars through
nuclear reactions. We discuss how it has become possible to study those processes by which
these elements have formed in laboratory conditions, using radioactive beams. The endeavour
to build new experimental facilities to accelerate unstable nuclei in order to study the key
reactions in the elements as well as projects that aim at exploring the limits of nuclear stability
will be presented.
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