Probing the nucleus with reactions

Abstract:  Many of the discoveries of the vastly varying properties of nuclei were and continue to be made using “reaction probing” between a beam and target nucleus. Because many interesting nuclei are rare and nowadays produced as radioactive beams, clever experimental techniques have to be devised to push the limits of our exploration. I will illustrate this quest via two experimental methods that provide high luminosities, in-beam gamma-ray spectroscopy using high velocity knockout reactions, and lower energy reactions in inverse kinematics performed in active targets. The future extended reach of radioactive beams at FRIB and other facilities, combined with complementary and efficient experimental methods to explore the properties of nuclei via reaction probes, will push forward our knowledge in nuclear science.