Paul DeYoung, the Kenneth G. Herrick Professor of Physics, recently received a $240,000 award from the National Science Foundation for the project titled RUI: Nuclear Physics at Hope College with Undergraduates: New Science Enhancing the STEM Workforce. The project will run from 1 August 2019 through 31 July 2022.
Dr. DeYoung’s research group will examine the properties of nuclei as determined by the nuclear force. The specific subtleties of the nuclear force can be extracted from the structure of neutron-rich nuclei near the neutron dripline. The abundance of the elements in the universe, especially those with atomic number greater than iron, depend on the nuclear properties of a wide variety of neutron-rich nuclei, many of which are formed in supernovas and neutron star mergers. Nuclear physics techniques and technology will be combined with the Hope College accelerator to characterize a wide variety of samples ranging from electro-deposited films to superconductors to environmental samples. Undergraduate researchers will play central roles in these efforts.
Congratulations on your award, Paul!