Studying Atomic Nuclei while Reaching for the Stars
Exploring the synergy between nuclear physics and astrophysics has always been a core mission of nuclear science. Florida State University hosts strong groups in experimental and theoretical low-energy nuclear physics, as well as in astrophysics and astronomy, which work synergetically to tackle the open questions at the crossroads of these disciplines. The programs are funded by the Department of Energy (DOE) and the National Science Foundation (NSF). FSU plays a major role in the FRIB Theory Alliance. Besides performing experiments at different national and international facilities, the experimental nuclear physics group runs the John D. Fox Superconducting Linear Accelerator Laboratory located on the FSU campus. Operations of the laboratory are funded through the NSF. The Fox Laboratory is part of the Association for Research with University Nuclear Accelerators (ARUNA) and of the Center for Excellence in Nuclear Training and University-Based Research (CENTAUR).
Graduate Studies in Nuclear Structure and Nuclear Astrophysics
Become a part of our team. Exciting research projects are waiting for you. To find out more, visit our "Research" page. To apply as a gradudate student in the Physics Program at Florida State University, click here.
FSU graduates talk about their graduate-research experience at the Fox Lab.
Dr. Maria Anastasiou (Supervisor: I. Wiedenhöver)
Dr. Kalisa Villafana (Supervisor: M. Riley)
Featured Research
Recent News and Highlights
NSF MRI funding for CeBrA
Professors Lewis A. Riley from Ursinus College, Andrea Richard from Ohio University, and Mark-Christoph Spieker from Florida State University have received a $721,072 Major Research Instrumentation grant from the U.S. National Science Foundation to complete the Cerium Bromide Array (CeBrA) for particle-gamma coincidence experiments at the FSU SE-SPS of the John D. Fox Laboratory. The grant allows the team to add nine additional CeBr3 detectors to the current array of five, paving the way for selective nuclear-structure experiments and collaborative physics research with other institutions. Follow the links to read the announcements by Ursinus College and Florida State University.
Piekarewicz co-organizes Talent School at ECT*
The DTP/TALENT 2024 School on Nuclear Theory for Astrophysics took place from July 15 to August 2, 2024 at the ECT* in Trento, Italy. FSU professor Jorge Piekarewicz was one of the main organizers and lecturers. The goal of the school was to provide the attendees with high level training on nuclear physics and nuclear astrophysics from various perspectives that include the Equation of State (EOS), neutron star mergers, and supernovae – and their combined impact in spearheading the brand new era of multi-messenger astronomy. In addition to Professor Piekarewicz, Almudena Arcones, Bruno Giacomazzo, as well as other experts in the various fields of relevance to the school were among the key lecturers. For more information, click here.
Fox Lab feature on Fox13 Tampa Bay
Professors Almaraz-Calderon, Cottle, and Wiedenhoever recently talked with "breakthroughs in science" host Craig Patrick for his segment on Fox13 Tampa Bay. The feature, which also mentions the planned collaboration with Mayo Clinic to develop improved methods of treating cancer, can be found here.
Cottle on Florida's STEM education
Paul Cottle was interviewed by 20-time Emmy winner Craig Patrick of Tampa Bay's Fox 13 for his show "Money, Power and Politics" about Florida's shortcomings in preparing high school students for college STEM majors, including physics, engineering and computing. The segment was broadcast in March 2024 and can be found on YouTube. Cottle was also invited by the Palm Beach County School District (the nation's tenth largest school district with about 200,000 students) to speak to high school students about how to best prepare for college majors in STEM fields, including physics, engineering and computing. Professor Cottle spoke to a live audience at John I. Leonard High School and reached many more through the district's live stream of the talk to high schools throughout Palm Beach County on March 14, 2024, which is available on YouTube.
New Long Range Plan for Nuclear Science
The United States Nuclear Science Advisory Committee (NSAC) released "A New Era of Discovery: The 2023 Long Range Plan for Nuclear Science". This new long range plan provides a roadmap for advancing the nation's nuclear science research programs over the next decade. The U.S. Nuclear Science community releases such a plan every 5-8 years highlighting the scientific opportunities of nuclear physics today to maintain world leadership. The document also explores the impact of nuclear science on other fields and applications of the research that benefit society. Science opportunities at the ARUNA laboratories, to which the Fox Lab belongs, were prominently featured.
Dr. Fossez receives NSF CAREER Award
Dr. Kevin Fossez has earned one of the most prestigious awards available to early career faculty members for his work in theoretical nuclear physics. He is a recipient of a 2023 Faculty Early Career Development Award, or CAREER Award, from the National Science Foundation for his work investigating how to better predict properties of new combinations of protons and neutrons at the limits of nuclear stability. “I am thrilled this award will provide funding for five years to pursue my work within a long-term perspective by building a research group and going deeper into certain problems, like challenging the common understanding of atomic nuclei by producing isotopes with a fleeting existence,” Fossez said. “It is also recognition that my work is valued by the scientific community, which is always appreciated.” Read more in this feature article.
Marc Salinas receives dean's award for doctoral excellence
FSU graduate student Marc Salinas, who works with Professor Piekarewicz, received the 2023 DEAN’S AWARD for DOCTORAL EXCELLENCE (DADE). The competitive award recognizes meritorious performance from doctoral students in the later phases of their program. Marc's research focuses on constraining the nuclear matter equation of state through the use of relativistic mean field theory and by incorporating information from nuclear experiments and neutron stars into a Bayesian framework.
Fox Lab alumnus featured in APS News
Fox Lab alumnus Jesus Perello Izaguirre has been featured in the FSU Spectrum magazine as well as in the American Physical Society (APS) News. Jesus joined FSU's graduate school program through the Department's Bridge program. At the Fox Lab, part of the U.S.’s Center for Excellence in Nuclear Training and University-Based Research (CENTAUR), Jesus worked alongside Prof. Sergio Almaraz-Calderon to better understand observations made by the NASA Fermi gamma-ray telescope orbiting in space that detected radioactive elements throughout the galaxy. After graduating in 2021, he accepted at postdoc position at Los Alamos National Laboratory. Read more about his story in the two feature articles.
Particle-gamma coincidences at SE-SPS
The Fox lab has completed the installation of CeBrA demonstrator for particle-γ coincidence experiments at the Super-Enge Split-Pole Spectrograph (SE-SPS) and connected upgrades to the beamline. The first particle-gamma experiments with the new CeBr3 gamma-ray detectors concluded successfully including experiments during the 2023 REU at the Fox Lab. The results of the commissioning experiments have been published in Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A. FSU graduate student Alex Conley, working with Dr. Spieker, led the developments.