WNPPC2026 - 63rd Winter Nuclear & Particle Physics Conference

Session

Nuclear Physics

Feb 13, 2026, 6:30 p.m.

Kinnear Centre Room (KC 303) (Banff, Alberta)

Conveners

Nuclear Physics: Nuclear Physics

• Noah Yazdandoost (TRIUMF)

Nuclear Physics: Nuclear Physics

• Thanassis Psaltis (Saint Mary's University)

76. How nuclear physics experiments shape our understanding of supernova γ-ray signatures

Thanassis Psaltis (Saint Mary's University)

2026-02-13, 6:30 p.m.

Nuclear physics

Invited Oral

The long-lived γ-ray isotopes observed in core-collapse supernovae remnants are direct signatures of the nucleosynthesis processes that occurred during the explosion. However, interpreting these signatures to understand the explosion dynamics requires precise nuclear physics input. Recent sensitivity studies have identified the ¹³N(α,p)¹⁶O reaction as a major nuclear uncertainty affecting the...

14. Inverse kinematics measurement of the 18O(α, γ)22Ne reaction with DRAGON

Dhruval Shah (McMaster University)

2026-02-13, 7:00 p.m.

Nuclear physics

Contributed Oral

Have you ever wondered how all the elements we find here on Earth and in the universe were created? Nearly all naturally occurring elements are produced via nuclear reactions in the interiors of the stars. Half of the elements heavier than iron are synthesized in the slow neutron capture process$~$($s$-process), which occurs mainly in two astrophysical sites: asymptotic giant branch$~$(AGB)...

29. Probing the s-process via Indirect Measurement of $^{22}Ne(\alpha, \gamma)^{26}Mg$ Reaction

Mike-Yizhu Qiu (TRIUMF)

2026-02-13, 7:15 p.m.

Nuclear physics

Contributed Oral

The slow neutron capture process (s-process) creates almost half of the elements heavier than iron in the universe. One of the most important neutron sources for the s-process is the $^{22}Ne(\alpha, n)^{25}Mg$ reaction, which competes with the $^{22}Ne(\alpha, \gamma)^{26}Mg$ reaction. The current nuclear data for these reactions show great discrepancies. Thus, in order to understand the...

74. Neutron-rich nuclei and neutron-rich stars: a trapped ion’s perspective of the two infinities

David Lunney (CNRS)

2026-02-15, 8:30 a.m.

Nuclear physics

Now famous as quantum computers, ion traps were already recognized (with the 1989 Nobel Prize) as superior instruments for precision measurements, made possible by long-term observation of their stored quarry.

The use of ion traps for measuring nuclear binding energies at on-line radioactive beam facilities (first CERN-ISOLDE, later TRIUMF-ISAC) has now brought improved topographical...

42. Status update on the next-generation Penning-trap mass spectrometry at TITAN

Amelia Greathouse (TRIUMF, McGill)

2026-02-15, 9:00 a.m.

Nuclear physics

Contributed Oral

Mass spectrometry plays an important role in many fields of physics research such as nuclear astrophysics, nuclear structure, and fundamental symmetries. Precise knowledge of masses is critical to these studies. For example, a relative mass precision of ≤10^-8 is required to probe the Standard Model and beyond. This level of precision with radioactive species has been achieved only with...

65. Toward APNC measurements in Fr: recent progress and ongoing developments at TRIUMF

I. Halilovic (University of Manitoba & TRIUMF)

2026-02-15, 9:15 a.m.

Nuclear physics

Contributed Oral

The FrPNC collaboration is working toward a campaign of atomic parity non-conservation (APNC) measurements in francium to study the weak nuclear force. Weak interactions between atomic electrons and nucleons make it possible for electric dipole (E1) transitions to occur between atomic S states. As the heaviest alkali atom, Fr has a higher sensitivity to APNC because the effect scales with...

37. Investigating Space-Charge Effects in TITAN's Multi-Reflection Time of Flight Mass Spectrometer

Mr Alec Cannon (University of Victoria)

2026-02-15, 9:30 a.m.

Nuclear physics

Contributed Oral

Nuclear masses are a fundamental observable that give insight into nuclear structure, fundamental interactions, and astrophysics. Multi-Reflection Time of Flight (MR-TOF) mass spectrometers provide high mass separation power in a short amount of time by bouncing ions between electrostatic mirrors. This increases the flight path of trapped ions allowing ions with the same energies but different...

16. CEDAR Conversion Electron Detection ARray

Jizhong Liu (TRIUMF/UVic)

2026-02-15, 9:45 a.m.

Nuclear physics

Contributed Oral

A new array of Si(Li) detectors is under development for conversion electron spectroscopy in combination with the GRIFFIN decay spectrometer at TRIUMF-ISAC. Internal conversion coefficients play a crucial role in studying electromagnetic transitions in nuclei as they assist in the assignment of spin and parity of excited nuclear states. In addition, the direct observation of L=0, E0,...

48. Systematics and Calibration for the KDK+ experiment

Cameron Ingo (Queen's)

2026-02-15, 10:00 a.m.

Nuclear physics

Contributed Oral

KDK and KDK+ research is focused on measuring the rare decays of Potassium-40
(40K). The KDK experiment recently recorded the first experimental measurement
of 40K electron capture decay directly to the ground state of 40Ar. KDK+ will follow
this with an experiment aimed at obtaining a refined experimental decay constant
for the β+ decay in 40K as the currently accepted value is in tension...