One of humanity's enduring objectives has been to comprehend the Sun, the star that provides our planet with energy. We now understand that stars generate energy through nuclear fusion reactions. Today astronomical observations have achieved unparalleled precision, however, the predictions made by the Standard Solar Model, which links the Sun's properties to observable quantities, is not precise enough.
In order to achieve the desired level of accuracy, it is essential to conduct experiments measuring the most significant nuclear reactions, such as the proton capture on nitrogen or the fusion of the two helium isotope. The objective of this project is to measure these reactions with high precision, taking advantage of the rapid development of experimental techniques and the applicability of new methods. The experiments will primarily utilise Hungary's state-of-the-art particle accelerator (the Atomki Tandetron) and, in international collaborations, unique underground accelerators.
Budget: 150 MHUF