Ann-Cecilie Larsen
Academic Interests
What happens if the atomic nucleus is heated to several billion degrees?
How were the elements that we know of in the Universe made?
How can nuclear physics save lives?
The nuclear physics group at the Oslo Cyclotron Laboratory (OCL) has developed a method to measure the properties of atomic nuclei at very high temperatures. At these temperatures, the most important properties are the level density, which is how many quantum states available for the nucleus at a given excitation energy, and the gamma-ray strength function, which is a measure of the probability of electromagnetic decay for a certain gamma energy. These two quantities are indispensable for estimating astrophysical reaction rates, which in turn are used for modeling the creation of the various elements in, e.g., supernovae.
New results from the OCL experiments show that some nuclei have an enhanced probability for electromagnetic decay for low-energetic gamma rays. It turns out that these discoveries might have a huge impact on the astrophysical reaction rates of the so-called r-process (rapid neutron capture), which is believed to be the mechanism behind about 50% of the heavy elements we observe in the Universe. Dependent on the models applied in the calculations, the reaction rates can increase up to a factor of 300 for the most neutron-rich nuclei [A. C. Larsen and S. Goriely, Physical Review C 82, 014318 (2010)].
Atomic nuclei may also be used for efficient and precise cancer treatment. By shooting e.g. protons (ionized hydrogen gas) or carbon ions into a tumor, the cancer cells will die while the surrounding healthy tissue will receive a minimal dose compared to conventional radiation treatment. Proton and ion therapy is now a well established method of treatment in many countries, and hopefully this method will also be available for Norwegian cancer patients soon.
Teaching
From spring 2021: FYS-MEK1110 - Mechanics https://www.uio.no/studier/emner/matnat/fys/FYS-MEK1110/index-eng.html
Lecturer, FYS4515 - Nuclear Physics I https://www.uio.no/studier/emner/matnat/fys/FYS4515/index-eng.html
Previous teaching
- colloquium teacher, FYS-MEK1110 - Mechanics http://www.uio.no/studier/emner/matnat/fys/FYS-MEK1110/index-eng.html
- lab teacher, KJM-FYS5920 - Nuclear measurement techniques and instruments http://www.uio.no/studier/emner/matnat/kjemi/KJM-FYS5920/index-eng.html
Higher education and employment history
Cand.mag. in Physics, Dec. 2002, Department of Physics, University of Oslo
Cand.scient. in Nuclear Physics, June 2004, Department of Physics, University of Oslo
Ph.D. in Nuclear Physics, May 2008, Department of Physics, University of Oslo
Research fellow, OCL nuclear physics group, June 2008 - Feb 2009, Department of Physics, University of Oslo
Post.doc., OCL nuclear physics group, Nov. 2009 - Feb 2011, Department of Physics, University of Oslo
Personal postdoc grant, Research Council of Norway, Nov 2011 - Oct 2014, Department of Physics, University of Oslo
Guest researcher, Université Libre de Bruxelles, spring 2013
Guest researcher, UC Berkeley/Lawrence Berkeley National Lab/Lawrence Livermore National Lab, fall 2013
Guest researcher, National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory/Michigan State University, summer 2014
Fulbright fellow at the National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory/Michigan State University, fall 2016
Fulbright fellow at UC Berkeley/Lawrence Berkeley National Lab, spring 2017
Honoraria
Fulbright Scholarship, 2016-2017
Member of the Norwegian Academy for Science and Letters, 2017-
Prize for Young, Excellent Researchers, Research Council of Norway, fall 2016
Starting Grant (STG-ERC-2014), European Research Council, Grant Agreement No. 637686, 2015-2020
Personal postdoc grant from the Research Council of Norway, Project Grant No. 205528, 2011-2014
Best poster presentation award, Zakopane Conference on Nuclear Physics, 2006
Cooperation
Oslo Syklotronlaboratorium (OCL), http://ocl.uio.no
Université Libre de Bruxelles, http://www.ulb.ac.be/index.html
National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory, Michigan State University, http://www.nscl.msu.edu
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, http://www.lbl.gov
Institute of Nuclear Physics NCSR Demokritos, http://www.inp.demokritos.gr/
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, https://www.llnl.gov/