Nuclear astrophysics with radioactive nuclear beams

Abstract

Nuclear reactions play a crucial role in the evolution of the universe. Various astronomical observations of nuclear effects provide important clues and tests for understanding of the mechanism of stellar events and the evolution of the universe. The explosive phenomena in the universe inevitably involve radioactive nuclei. Nucleosynthesis in big bang models and stellar models are discussed critically, in particular the key nuclear reactions that involve radioactive nuclei. Also discussed is how new facets recently attained in the nuclear physics of unstable nuclei alter the nucleosynthesis scenarios. The scope of the new research field developed with radioactive nuclear beams in nuclear astrophysics is also discussed.