Overview
Dr. Weller's research program at TUNL has been concentrated on using radiative capture reactions induced by polarized beams of protons and deuterons to study nuclear systems. These measurements have permitted him to observe the "D-state" in the 4He nucleus, which arises from the two body tensor force. This result changes the rate of the d+d fusion reaction by almost a factor of 50 at very low energies. This is of great interest in nuclear astrophysics. In the past year, he has focused on studies of (d,n) reactions using very low energy polarized beams. Such studies have not been previously performed. These reactions are of great interest in nuclear astrophysics. Dr. Weller is also working to help develop an intense beam of polarized gamma-rays using the facilities of the Duke Free Electron Laser Laboratory. (Dr. Weller is the Nuclear Physics Program Manager and is in charge of the development of the target room for the HIGS Project at DFELL). This beam will ultimately allow new experimental studies capable of testing fundamental aspects of Quantum Chromodynamics in the low-energy sector, such as the up-to-down quark mass ratio. The experiments at HIGS require very sophisticated targets and detector systems. Dr. Weller is leading the development of these. The first experiments using these setups and the upgraded HIGS facility are expected to begin in the spring of 2008.
Current Appointments & Affiliations
Professor Emeritus of Physics
·
2009 - Present
Physics,
Trinity College of Arts & Sciences
Recent Publications
Cross section measurements of the B10(d,n0)C11 reaction below 160 keV
Journal Article Physical Review C Nuclear Physics · May 27, 2008 New data were taken at the Triangle Universities Nuclear Laboratory to investigate the plausibility of using low energy deuterons and the B10(d,n)C11 reaction as a portable source of 6.3 MeV neutrons. Analysis of the data at and below incident deuteron ene ... Full text CiteNear-threshold deuteron photodisintegration: An indirect determination of the Gerasimov-Drell-Hearn sum rule and forward spin polarizability (γ0) for the deuteron at low energies
Journal Article Physical Review C Nuclear Physics · April 24, 2008 It is shown that a measurement of the analyzing power obtained with linearly polarized γ-rays and an unpolarized target can provide an indirect determination of two physical quantities. These are the Gerasimov-Drell-Hearn (GDH) sum rule integrand for the d ... Full text CiteResearch Opportunities at the Upgraded HIGS Facility
Journal Article Progress in Particle and Nuclear Physics · 2008 CiteRecent Grants
Gamma Beam Diagnostics
ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by Horia Hulubei National Institute of Physics and Nuclear Engineering · 2014 - 2015International Collaboration Between HIGS (TUNL) and S-DALINAC (Darmstadt) to Investigate the Dipole Strength in the Particle Threshold Region of Nuclei
ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by National Science Foundation · 2003 - 2008International Collaboration between TUNL and Mainz to Study the Helicity Structure of Photoreactions on Deuterium and He
ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by National Science Foundation · 2002 - 2007View All Grants
Education, Training & Certifications
Duke University ·
1967
Ph.D.