The Use of Storage Rings in the Study of Reactions at Low-momentum Transfers

Abstract

A few aspects of the nucleus manifest themselves in direct reactions where the transferred momentum to the nucleus is very small. In the study of radioactive isotopes, one has to use inverse kinematics in which the radioactive ion impinges on a stable target. When the momentum transfer is low, one has to do these reactions with either an active target or in a storage-ring environment. In this contribution, the latter method will be discussed in some detail as the active targets are discussed in other contributions. The pilot studies performed by the EXL Collaboration in 2012 lead to the first ever measurements of reactions employing radioactive isotopes in the ring. In this contribution, the first results will be presented. The outlook will indicate in which directions the future of this field will be headed.