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TRIUMF-led CaNPAN tapped to join International Research Network for Nuclear Astrophysics

07 February 2022

The Canadian Nuclear Physics for Astrophysics Network (CaNPAN), a national network of nuclear astrophysics researchers from TRIUMF and other Canadian institutions, has been selected to join the International Research Network for Nuclear Astrophysics (IReNA). The affiliation brings new opportunities and avenues for collaboration and marks an important step forward for both CaNPAN and TRIUMF 

(image credit: Facility for Rare Isotope Beams) 

CaNPAN: a rising star 

Since emerging in 2021 as the brainchild of TRIUMF’s Dr. Chris Ruiz (Senior Scientist and Department Head, Nuclear Physics) and University of Victoria astronomer Dr. Falk Herwig, the CaNPAN network has served to drive discovery and foster collaboration for Canadian researchers working at the crossroads of nuclear physics and astrophysics.  

While the two fields may not sound like they have much in common, they are in actuality deeply entwined. Ruiz says the intersection of these fields is where new answers to some of the most important questions about stars, stardust, and the origin of the elements are found.    

“Scientific progress relies not only on a deep understanding of fundamental principles but also on the opportunity that comes from looking at problems holistically,” said Ruiz. “Many of the questions that nuclear astrophysics seeks to answer – how stars form, how they live and die, how they create the elements that we see around us – can be approached from both the nuclear physics perspective, with experimental and theoretical analysis of the structure and behaviour of atomic nuclei, and the astrophysics perspective, with astrophysical modeling and simulation. What we’re aiming to do with CaNPAN is answer those questions by working from both sides.” 

With this united approach as its guiding star, CaNPAN connects Canadian researchers working in the field of experimental and theoretical nuclear physics with astrophysicists and astronomers from across TRIUMF’s member university network, including McMaster University, Saint Mary’s University, the University of British Columbia, the University of Guelph, and the University of Victoria. The Network leverages TRIUMF’s world-leading facilities for nuclear physics studies (including the EMMA, DRAGON and IRIS experiments), a multidisciplinary community of experts, and TRIUMF’s own academic and research networks, which connect to universities and institutions across the globe, to spark collaboration and enhance nuclear astrophysics research across Canada.  

One example is CaNPAN’s inaugural NSERC-funded project, Nuclear physics of the dynamic origin of the elements, which enables graduate students to explore the dual worlds of computational astrophysics and experimental nuclear physics while learning about the computational and experimental data needed to make advances in the field in the era of multimessenger astronomy. Ruiz, who also serves as the Principal Investigator for the NSERC project, says that the project highlights the value of the multidisciplinary paradigm, especially for the next generation of nuclear astrophysics researchers.  

“The NSERC project provides a rich training ground and brings a broad perspective to the applications of nuclear physics to stellar physics,” said Ruiz. “Further, through the wider CaNPAN community, both students and researchers are able to work alongside some of the best nuclear physicists and astrophysicists in the world. They’re looking at problems from both of those perspectives, keeping one foot in the computational astrophysics world of modeling and simulation while also learning skills that apply to nuclear physics.” 

CaNPAN’s unique approach to the NSERC project garnered interest from IReNA, which then made the offer for CaNPAN join the network in late 2021. 

"For CaNPAN to be able to join the IReNA network is a great opportunity to further collaboration between Canadian nuclear astrophysics researchers and their colleagues in the U.S. and around the world," said Ruiz. “Also importantly, it connects students to their peers in the field and really fosters community among the future leaders of the field." 

“We are pleased to be able to support CaNPAN, the Canadian nuclear astrophysics community, and our joint efforts as part of IReNA,” said Dr. Reiner Kruecken, TRIUMF Deputy Director, Research. “These networks help us better exploit the full potential of our science communities, both in Canada and around the world, which amplifies the impact of our science and significantly enhances the training landscape for our up-and-coming researchers and students.”