NUSTAR – presence and prospects of nuclear structure research at GSI and FAIR

Abstract

New experimental methods at rare-isotope facilities including in-flight separation, storage rings, and traps, setups for reaction studies with beams of exotic nuclei in reversed kinematics and large gamma arrays give new insights into the structure of atomic nuclei at the limits of stability. The discoveries of new isotopes and elements, as well as new phenomena including one and two proton decay, nuclear halos and skins as well as coexistence of nuclear shapes will be discussed. Workhorses are the UNILAC and SIS accelerators in combination with the in-flight separators SHIP and FRS. Physics at the ESR storage ring at GSI addresses the interaction of atomic and nuclear physics and large-scale explorations of the landscape of nuclear masses. A brief outlook on the future, NUSTAR at FAIR will be given.