Nuclear astrophysics is the study of nuclear-level processes that occur naturally in space. Notably, this includes understanding the chain of fusion events, or nucleosynthesis, that occurs in stars, and how can we recreate them in our facilities and compare them with the observables from space. The ISOLDE Nuclear Astrophysics School will consist of morning lectures and tutorial sessions in the afternoon.

Lecture descriptions: Francois De Oliveira Santos: Simple but important notions of nuclear astrophysics will be presented, like the nuclear reaction rates, the Gamow peak, the astrophysical factor, effective reaction time. Some historical elements will be introduced in order to help understanding the general context. Different examples of experimental studies will be presented, related to different astrophysical puzles and involving different experimental techniques and different reaction mechanisms,. The lecture will be very practical, with for example the presentation of several calculation codes (penetrability, asymptotic normalisation coefficient, R-Matrix).

Gabriel Martinez Pinedo: Nucleosynthesis of heavy elements: astrophysical scenarios and nuclear physics inputs. The aim of these lectures is to introduce the nuclear physics mechanisms and astrophysical sites responsible for the production of heavy elements by the r-process. Recent advances in microphysics and astrophysical modeling have contributed to rule out canonical core-collapse supernova explosions as the r-process site. This has brought new attention to alternative scenarios. In particular neutron star mergers are currently considered the most likely site for the r-process. The nuclear properties of exotic neutron rich nuclei including neutron captures, beta-decays and fission are fundamental to understand the nucleosynthesis in such events.

Olivier Sorlin: A walk on the wild side towards nuclear drip lines The aim of these lessons is to show and describe new features that appear when moving from the valley of stability to the drip line. This encompasses the disappearance of closed shells and the emergence of new magic nuclei, the appearance of cluster or halo states and possible changes in pairing or proton-neutron interactions when approaching or when being in the continuum. These lectures will be based on recent experimental results obtained in various facilities worldwide. Interpretations will be made using, whenever possible, rather simple concepts in nuclear physics. Implications of these aforementioned effects in the context stellar explosive nucleosynthesis will be presented as well.

Registration for this event is now open via http://indico.cern.ch/event/615111/ .