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Dr Robin Smith

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Dr Robin Smith

Senior Lecturer in Physics

Summary

Robin Smith joined SHU as a physics lecturer in August 2017 after completing his PhD in nuclear physics at the University of Birmingham. He specialises in experimental measurements of nuclear reactions, relevant to nuclear structure and nuclear astrophysics, examining the shapes of atomic nuclei and determining the rates of fusion reactions in stars. Robin is also leading projects in radiation detector development, which are to be used in the energy sector for nuclear data measurements and also for nuclear security.

Robin has authored a number of peer-reviewed publications in both theoretical and experimental nuclear physics. His publication on the  in 2017 was featured in Physics World magazine and . The experiment itself appeared in the BBC television show, .



Robin Smith

About

Responsibilities

  • (NAILS) – SHU representative
  • – Teacher

Professional Memberships

  • Member of the Institute of Physics
  • Fellow of the Higher Education Academy

Awards

2019 -  


Specialist areas of interest

  • Radiation detection
  • Nuclear reactions
  • Nuclear structure (alpha clustering)
  • Nuclear data
  • Neutron spectrum unfolding

Teaching

Department of Engineering and Mathematics

College of Business, Technology and Engineering

Subject areas

Physics and Engineering Mathematics
Mathematics

Courses

Physics
Mathematics

Modules

  • Module leader: Atomic and Nuclear Physics. Level 4 Physics
  • Academic lead: Physics laboratory. The Professional and Practical Physicist 2. Level 5 Physics
  • Lecturer: Electromagnetism. Mechanics, Relativity and Electromagnetism. Level 5 Physics
  • Lecturer: Exploring the Universe. Explorations in mathematics. Level 4 Mathematics
  • Supervisor: Physics project. Level 6 physics
  • Tutor: Engineering Mathematics/ Applied Engineering Mathematics. Level 4 Engineering
  • Academic advisor. Level 4–6 Physics

Ï㽶ÊÓƵ

Studies in Low-Energy Nuclear Physics – US Department of Energy. Collaborators; ;  (2019 -2012).

The goal of this project is to use a gas-filled Time Projection Chamber (TPC) to measure the 12C(a,g)16O reaction; a crucial stage in stellar nucleosynthesis and key to understanding the evolution of stars. Experimental measurements are performed at the HIgS facility at Duke University in the USA.

ENFUSE: Effective Neutron Spectrometry for FUSion Environments. Funded by the UK Atomic Energy Authority UKAEA and a SHU collaborative studentship.

In collaboration with the Culham Centre for , a PhD student is working on machine learning algorithm development to improve the ways neutron spectra are measured in fusion environments.

Measuring the 16O(n,α)13C reaction using the Texas Active Target Detector (TexAT) –  funded by STFC. Collaborators; .

The goal of this project is to use the Texas Active Target detector (TexAT) to measure the 16O(n,a)13C reaction; a crucial reaction in understanding neutron multiplication in nuclear reactors. The reverse reaction is also a key neutron source for the astrophysical s-process. Experimental measurements will be performed at the Edwards Accelerator Laboratory at Ohio University in the USA.

NESSY: a Neutron Energy Spectrometer for SecuritY – funded by STFC. Collaborators; .

This project aims to build a high-sensitivity neutron detector with unrivalled neutron/gamma discrimination properties. The detector will have applications in nuclear security and nuclear astrophysics. It is being tested in laboratories at SHU.


Publications

Journal articles

Lennon, K., Shand, C., & Smith, R. (2024). . Journal of Fusion Energy, 43 (17).

Ghardi, M., Scrimshire, A., Smith, R., Bingham, P., Middleburgh, S., Lee, B., & Rushton, M. (2024). . Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics.

Lois-Fuentes, J., Fernández-Domínguez, B., Pereira-López, X., Delaunay, F., Catford, W.N., Matta, A., ... Wheldon, C. (2023). . Physics Letters B: Nuclear Physics and Particle Physics, 845.

Brune, C.R., Matei, C., Pain, S.D., & Smith, R. (2023). . The European Physical Journal A, 59.

Smith, R., Stowell, J.P., Barker, D., & Thompson, L.F. (2023). . Universe, 9 (6).

Wong, O., Smith, R., Nobs, C., & Bruce, A. (2022). . Journal of Fusion Energy, 41.

Bishop, J., Parker, C.E., Rogachev, G.V., Ahn, S., Koshchiy, E., Brandenburg, K., ... Wheldon, C. (2022). . Nature Communications, 13.

Smith, R., Gai, M., Stern, S.R., Schweitzer, D.K., & Ahmed, M.W. (2021). . Nature Communications, 12.

Pirrie, S., Wheldon, C., Kokalova, T., Bishop, J., Faestermann, T., Hertenberger, R., ... Turner, A. (2021). . The European Physical Journal A, 57 (4).

Bailey, S., Kokalova, T., Freer, M., Wheldon, C., Smith, R., Walshe, J., ... Jacquot, B. (2021). . The European Physical Journal A, 57 (3).

Smith, R., Gai, M., Stern, S., Schweitzer, D., & Ahmed, M. (2021). Precision measurements on oxygen formation in stellar helium burning with gamma-ray beams and a Time Projection Chamber. .

Pirrie, S., Wheldon, C., Kokalova, T.Z., Bishop, J., Faestermann, T.H., Hertenberger, R., ... Turner, A. (2020). . Physical Review C, 102 (6).

Pereira-López, X., Fernández-Domínguez, B., Delaunay, F., Achouri, N.L., Orr, N.A., Catford, W.N., ... Wheldon, C. (2020). . Physics Letters B, 811 (135939), 135939.

Smith, R., Bishop, J., Hirst, J., Kokalova, T., & Wheldon, C. (2020). . Few-Body Systems, 61, 14.

Smith, R., Gai, M., Ahmed, M., Freer, M., Fynbo, H., Schweitzer, D., & Stern, S. (2020). . Physical Review C: Nuclear Physics, 101, 021302(R).

Smith, R., & Bishop, J. (2019). . Physics, 1 (3), 375-391.

Bailey, S., Kokalova, T., Freer, M., Wheldon, C., Smith, R., Walshe, J., ... Soylu, A. (2019). . Physical Review C - Nuclear Physics, 100 (051302).

Smith, R., Bishop, J., Kokalova, T., & Wheldon, C. (2019). Theoretical approaches to the 3α break-up of 12C. Journal of Physics: Conference Series, 012021.

Bishop, J., Kokalova, T., Freer, M., Acosta, L., Assié, M., Bailey, S., ... Wheldon, C. (2019). . Physical Review C, 100 (3).

Smith, R., Bishop, J., Wheldon, C., & Kokalova, T. (2019). . Journal of Physics: Conference Series, 1308 (1), 012021.

Gai, M., Schweitzer, D., Stern, S.R., Young, A.H., Smith, R., Cwiok, M., ... Freer, M. (2019). . Nuclear instruments and methods in physics research: Section A: Accelerators, spectrometers, detectors and associated equipment.

Smith, R., Bishop, J., Kokalova, T., Wheldon, C., Freer, M., Curtis, N., ... Parker, D.J. (2018). . Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Ï㽶ÊÓƵ Section A Accelerators Spectrometers Detectors and Associated Equipment, 901, 14-20.

Smith, R., Kokalova, T., Wheldon, C., Bishop, J.E., Freer, M., Curtis, N., & Parker, D.J. (2017). . Physical Review Letters, 119, 132502.

Bishop, J., Kokalova, T., Freer, M., Assie, M., Acosta, L., Bailey, S., ... Wheldon, C. (2017). . Journal of Physics: Conference Series, 863 (1), 012070.

Smith, R., Freer, M., Wheldon, C., Curtis, N., Almaraz-Calderon, S., Aprahamian, A., ... Ziman, V.A. (2017). . Journal of Physics: Conference Series, 863 (1), 012032.

Tokic, V., Soic, N., Blagus, S., Fazinic, S., Jelavic-Malenica, D., Mijatovic, T., ... Fioretto, E. (2017). . Acta Physica Polonica B, 48 (3), 319-324.

Smith, R., Wheldon, C., Freer, M., Curtis, N., Kokalova, T., Almaraz-Calderon, S., ... Ziman, V.A. (2016). . Physical Review C (PRC), 94, 014320.

Bailey, S., Freer, M., Kokalova, T., Wheldon, C., Smith, R., Walshe, J., ... Jacquot, B. (2016). . EPJ Web of Conferences, 113, 08002.

Caprio, M.A., Maris, P., Vary, J.P., & Smith, R. (2015). . Romanian Journal of Physics, 60 (5-6), 646-647.

Caprio, M.A., Maris, P., Vary, J.P., & Smith, R. (2015). . International Journal of Modern Physics E, 24 (09), 1541002.

Conference papers

Palada, L., Soić, N., Acosta, L., Bailey, S., Dell’Aquila, D., Duenas, J.A., ... Wheldon, C. (2024). . EPJ Web of Conferences, 311.

Haverson, K., Smith, R., Shenfield, A., Fortulan, R., Ćwiok, M., Dominik, W., ... Wheldon, C. (2024). . Il Nuovo Cimento, 48 (1).

Haverson, K.C.Z., Smith, R., Gai, M., Hughes, O., Tindle, O., Bishop, J., ... Al-Aqeel, M.A.M. (2024). . EPJ Web of Conferences, 311.

Ćwiok, M., Dominik, W., Fijałkowska, A., Fila, M., Janas, Z., Kalinowski, A., ... Santa Rita Alcibia, P. (2023). . EPJ Web of Conferences, 279.

Smith, R., Bishop, J., Hirst, J., Kokalova, T., & Wheldon, C. (2020). . SciPost Physics Proceedings, 3 (030).

Pirrie, S., Wheldon, C., Kokalova, T., Bishop, J., Hertenberger, R., Wirth, H.-.F., ... Turner, A. (2020). . SciPost Physics Proceedings, 3 (009).

Bishop, J., Smith, R., Kokalova, T., Wheldon, C., Curtis, N., Freer, M., & Parker, D. (2018). . In 6th International Conference on Production, Energy and Reliability 2018: World Engineering Science & Technology Congress (ESTCON), Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 13 August 2018 - 15 August 2018 (pp. 020035). AIP Publishing:

Pirrie, S., Kokalova, T., Wheldon, C., Bailey, S., Bishop, J., Curtis, N., ... Dell’Aquila, D. (2018). . In Pedapati, S.R., Soon, W.P.K., Nasif, M.S., Ya, H., Sulaiman, S.A.B., & Mamat, O.B. (Eds.) 6TH INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON PRODUCTION, ENERGY AND RELIABILITY 2018: World Engineering Science & Technology Congress (ESTCON). AIP:

Lennon, K., Turner, A., Shand, C., Smith, R., Turner, A., Berry, T., ... Chohan, H. (2024). . In WM2024 (Waste Management Symposia), Phoenix, Arizona, USA, 10 March 2024 - 14 March 2024.

Book chapters

Smith, R., Freer, M., Wheldon, C., Curtis, N., Almaraz-Calderon, S., Aprahamian, A., ... Ziman, V.A. (2015). . In Lipoglavsek, M., Milin, M., Niksic, T., Szilner, S., & Vretenar, D. (Eds.) Nuclear Structure and Dynamics '15. (pp. 060003). AIP Publishing:

Postgraduate supervision

  • February 2019 – present: Raed Dallal – Neutron-induced nuclear reactions and neutron detector development 
  • October 2019 – present: Ocean Wong – ENFUSE: Effective Neutron Spectrometry for FUSion Environments 

Media

Robin engages with media outlets to improve the public understanding of science and the value of fundamental physics research.

Robin and colleagues performing an experiment on the structure of the carbon-12 Hoyle state, at the University of Birmingham, appeared in the BBC television show, .

Robin’s lead-author publication on the structure of the carbon-12 Hoyle state in 2017 was featured in and .

Radio interview with Global media company to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landings. Interviews featured on Heart Yorkshire and Capital Yorkshire 16th July 2019.

In January 2020, Robin recorded a "Finding Genius" podcast, entitled

In November 2020, Robin gave a talk at TEDx Aberystwyth, entitled . Robin's talk begins at 2:53:40 in the live stream recording


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