2026 IOP Conference

Name: 2026 IOP Conference
Start: 2026-04-04T09:00:00+01:00
End: 2026-04-15T17:00:00+01:00
Location: No location set

4 Apr 2026, 09:00 → 15 Apr 2026, 17:00 Europe/London

Huxley 300

University of Brighton

Description

The annual IOP Nuclear Physics Conference covers experimental and theoretical research in nuclear structure and reactions, nuclear astrophysics and hadron physics, as well as the applications of nuclear physics. The conference will feature invited speakers from the UK and overseas and is also particularly welcoming to ECRs and PhD students. Some contributed abstracts will be selected for talks in the plenary sessions. Discussion with senior members of the Science and Technology Facilities Council will be provided at a town meeting during the conference.

Further information can be found on the conference website: https://iop.eventsair.com/np2026/

A satellite meeting is being held on Thursday 16 April, also at Brighton, for early-career researchers in nuclear physics. More information is available here: https://indico.stfc.ac.uk/event/1712/

Monday, 13 April
- 10:45
  
  Conference opening Huxley 300
  
  Huxley 300
  
  University of Brighton
- Plenary Huxley 300
  
  Huxley 300
  
  University of Brighton
  - 1
    
    Were the Superheavy Elements Made in Nature?
    
    Speaker: Prof. Ani Aprahamian (University of Notre Dame, USA)
    
    Invited Abstracts_Ani Aprahamian.pdf
  - 2
    
    Nuclear structure and dynamics at finite temperature
    
    Speaker: Prof. Dr sc. Nils Paar (University of Zagreb, Croatia)
    
    Invited Abstracts_Nils Paar.pdf
- IoP prize winner Huxley 300
  
  Huxley 300
  
  University of Brighton
  - 3
    
    Storage Rings for Nuclear Physics and Astrophysics
    
    Speaker: Dr Ragandeep Singh Sidhu (University of Surrey, UK)
    
    Invited Abstracts_Ragandeep Singh Sidhu.pdf
- 12:30
  
  Lunch Huxley 300
  
  Huxley 300
  
  University of Brighton
- Plenary: 2 Huxley 300
  
  Huxley 300
  
  University of Brighton
  - 4
    
    Extending the Chart of Nuclides: How to Create New (Super)Heavy Nuclei
    
    Speaker: Dr Sophia Heinz (GSI, Germany)
    
    Invited Abstracts_Sophia Heinz.pdf
  - 5
    
    Neutrino–Nucleus Interactions from Reactors to the Cosmos: Precision Measurements and New Physics Opportunities
    
    Speaker: Dr Ivan Martinez-Soler (University of Durham)
    
    Invited Abstracts_Ivan Martinez Soler.pdf
- Featured talks: 1 Huxley 300
  
  Huxley 300
  
  University of Brighton
  - 6
    
    Quantum entanglement of positron annihilation gamma – fundamental research applied to Positron Emission Tomography (PET) imaging
    
    Speaker: Ms Laura Stephenson (University of York)
    
    Featured Abstracts_Laura Stephenson.pdf
  - 7
    
    Detector-Aware Neural Networks for Particle Identification in Pb-PbCollisions: Feature Set Embedding with Adaptive AttentionMechanisms
    
    Speaker: Mr Robert Forynski (University Of Derby & CERN)
    
    Featured Abstracts_Robert Forynski.pdf
- 15:15
  
  Tea
- Parallel session: A Huxley 300
  
  Huxley 300
  - 8
    
    Production of Terbium-161 at HF-ADNeF
    
    Speaker: Max Conroy (Birmingham)
    
    Oral Abstracts_Max Conroy.pdf
  - 9
    
    Nuclear Reaction Studies at NIF: Establishing the Method and Recent Results
    
    Speaker: Dr Daniel Pitman-Weymouth (Atomic Weapons Establishment)
    
    Oral Abstracts_Daniel Pitman-Weymouth.pdf
  - 10
    
    Nuclear and radiation backgrounds for the BUTTON anti-neutrino detector testbed at Boulby
    
    Speaker: William Hopkins (University of Glasgow)
    
    Oral Abstracts_William Hopkins.pdf
  - 11
    
    Detecting water in spent nuclear fuel using the prompt neutron capture reaction on hydrogen
    
    Speaker: Brendan Green (University of Lancaster)
    
    Oral Abstracts_Brendan Green.pdf
  - 12
    
    Probing Short Range Correlations via (p,pd) Quasi-Free Scattering reactions
    
    Speaker: Matthew Whitehead (University of York)
    
    Oral Abstracts_Matthew Whitehead.pdf
- Parallel session: B Huxley 406
  
  Huxley 406
  - 13
    
    A Compact Multimode Detector for the Decommissioning of Irradiated Graphite
    
    Speaker: Nia Hunter (University of Glasgow)
    
    Oral Abstracts_Nia Hunter.pdf
  - 14
    
    Transforming Inorganic Scintillators Into Neutron Spectrometers
    
    Speaker: Dr Joseph O'Neill (University of Birmingham)
    
    Oral Abstracts_Joseph O'Neill.pdf
  - 15
    
    The Structure of Neutron-Rich N∼126 Nuclei
    
    Speaker: Dr Gee Bartram (University of Surrey)
    
    Oral Abstracts_Gemma Bartram.pdf
  - 16
    
    Competing decay modes from the 25/2− spin-gap isomer in 155Lu
    
    Speaker: Dr Andy Briscoe (University of Liverpool)
    
    Oral Abstracts_Andy Briscoe.pdf
  - 17
    
    Investigations of the unbound states in 20C
    
    Speaker: Dr Sidong Chen (University of York)
    
    Oral Abstracts_Sidong Chen.pdf
- Parallel session: C Huxley 407
  
  Huxley 407
  
  University of Brighton
  - 18
    
    Exploring intense photon/muon beams as Dark Matter detectors
    
    Speaker: Dr Mikhail Bashkanov (University of York)
    
    Oral Abstracts_Mikhail Bashkanov.pdf
  - 19
    
    GEn-RP: Neutron Electric Form Factor Measurement using Recoil Polarimetry at Jefferson Lab
    
    Speaker: Andrew Cheyne (University Of Glasgow)
    
    Oral Abstracts_Andrew Cheyne.pdf
  - 20
    
    Quantum Machine Learning Meets Predicting Nuclear Binding Energy
    
    Speaker: Prof. Serkan Akkoyun
    
    Oral Abstracts_Serkan Akkoyun.pdf
  - 21
    
    Investigating the boundaries of enhanced octupole collectivity in the rare-earth region
    
    Speaker: Dr Pietro Spagnoletti (University of Liverpool)
    
    Oral Abstracts_Pietro Spagnoletti.pdf
  - 22
    
    Direct Measurements of Low-Lying Monopole Transitions in 28Si
    
    Speaker: Jacob Towers (University of York)
    
    Oral Abstracts_Jacob Towers.pdf
- Poster session and refreshments Cockcroft Building, G50
  
  Cockcroft Building, G50
  
  University of Brighton
Tuesday, 14 April
- Plenary: 3 Huxley 300
  
  Huxley 300
  
  University of Brighton
  - 23
    
    Radioactive ion beams for real-time PET-guided adaptive particle therapy
    
    Speaker: Dr Daria Boscolo (GSI, Germany)
    
    Invited Abstracts_Daria Boscolo.pdf
  - 24
    
    TBC
    
    Speaker: Dr Bryan McKinnon (University of Glasgow)
- Featured talks: 2 Huxley 300
  
  Huxley 300
  
  University of Brighton
  - 25
    
    Evidence of isomeric states in 183,184Ta.
    
    Speaker: Mr Siddharth Doshi (University of Brighton)
    
    Featured Abstracts_Siddharth Doshi.pdf
  - 26
    
    First identification of resonant states in the 45V(p,γ)46Cr reaction and their influence on the production of 44Ti in core-collapse supernovae
    
    Speaker: Dr Chris Cousins (University of Surrey)
    
    Featured Abstracts_Chris Cousins.pdf
- 10:30
  
  Coffee
- Parallel session: D Huxley 300
  
  Huxley 300
  
  University of Brighton
  - 27
    
    Constraining the density-dependence of the symmetry energy by cross section measurements at R3B
    
    Speaker: Dr Lukas Ponnath (University of York)
    
    Oral Abstracts_Lukas Ponnath.pdf
  - 28
    
    Uncertainty quantification of spin-parity assignments in 19Ne with ML methods
    
    Speaker: Benjamin Wood (University of Birmingham)
    
    Oral Abstracts_Benjamin Wood.pdf
  - 29
    
    Evidence of the 9B(1/2+) state in the 12C(p,a)9B reaction
    
    Speaker: Alex Brooks (University of Birmingham)
    
    Oral Abstracts_Alex Brooks.pdf
  - 30
    
    Lifetime measurements in neutron-rich barium and cerium isotopes using the fast-timing technique
    
    Speaker: Faye Rowntree (University of Liverpool)
    
    Oral Abstracts_Faye Rowntree.pdf
  - 31
    
    B(E2) measurements of heavy N = Z nuclei at FRIB
    
    Speaker: Prof. Michael Bentley (University of York)
    
    Oral AbstractsMichael Bentley.pdf
- Parallel session: E Huxley 406
  
  Huxley 406
  - 32
    
    Particle identification with Bragg spectroscopy at ISOLDE Solenoidal Spectrometer
    
    Speaker: Michał Włodarczyk (University of Manchester)
    
    Oral Abstracts_Michał Włodarczyk.pdf
  - 33
    
    A Novel Method for PET Radioisotope Photoproduction
    
    Speaker: Josephine Stone (University of York)
    
    Oral Abstracts_Josephine Stone.pdf
  - 34
    
    Differential cross section measurements for (n,α) reactions with a Time Projection Chamber
    
    Speaker: Dr Jack Bishop (University of Birmingham)
    
    Oral Abstracts_Jack Bishop.pdf
  - 35
    
    Deep Learning for Enhanced Muon Tomography Imaging
    
    Speaker: William O'Donnell (University of Glasgow)
    
    Oral Abstracts_William O'Donnell.pdf
  - 36
    
    Position resolution estimation of Adaptive Grid search algorithm for multi-site interactions position determination in 'SIGMA' detector.
    
    Speaker: Nawaf Altasan (University of Liverpool)
    
    Oral Abstracts_Nawaf Altasan.pdf
- Parallel session: F Huxley 407
  
  Huxley 407
  - 37
    
    The dynamical evolution of the parity splitting energy in nuclei with octupole deformation
    
    Speaker: Dr Radu Budaca (Horia Hulubei, Romania)
    
    Oral Abstracts_Radu Budaca.pdf
  - 38
    
    Recent developments for microscopic optical potentials for nucleon-nucleus elastic scattering
    
    Speaker: Ashley Pitt (University of Surrey)
    
    Oral Abstracts_Ashley Pitt.pdf
  - 39
    
    Lifetime measurements of the 2+ state in 128Nd and 132Sm
    
    Speaker: Dr Jacob Heery (University of Surrey)
    
    Oral Abstracts_Jacob Heery.pdf
  - 40
    
    Laser spectroscopy measurements of 151-175Tm. On behalf of the COLLAPS collaboration
    
    Speaker: Jack Hughes (University of Liverpool)
    
    Oral Abstracts_Jack Hughes.pdf
  - 41
    
    Radiative decay and electromagnetic moments in 229Th determined within nuclear DFT
    
    Speaker: Alejandro Restrepo-Giraldo (University of York)
    
    Oral Abstracts_Alejandro Restrepo-Giraldo.pdf
- 12:15
  
  Lunch
- Plenary: 4 Huxley 300
  
  Huxley 300
  
  University of Brighton
  - 42
    
    Quantum algorithms for the nuclear shell model
    
    Speaker: Dr Arnau Rios Huguet (University of Barcelona, Spain)
    
    Invited Abstracts_Arnau Rios Huguet.pdf
  - 43
    
    The Path to Commercial Fusion Energy
    
    Speaker: Dr Chantal Shand (UK Atomic Energy Authority, UK)
- Featured talks: 3 Huxley 300
  
  Huxley 300
  
  University of Brighton
  - 44
    
    Development of collectivity beyond N=50 in the Ge and Se isotopes
    
    Speaker: Dr Frank Browne (University of Manchester)
    
    Featured Abstracts_Frank Browne.pdf
  - 45
    
    Stress-Testing AGATA: Benchmarking the High-Spin Capabilities of the 1π AGATA Spectrometer at LNL
    
    Speaker: Dr Connor Sullivan (University of Liverpool)
    
    Featured Abstracts_Conor Sullivan.pdf
- 15:00
  
  Tea
- STFC town meeting Huxley 300
  
  Huxley 300
  
  University of Brighton
  
  Convener: Prof. Wilton Catford (University of Surrey)
- 17:30
  
  Exhibitor's reception Huxley 300
  
  Huxley 300
  
  University of Brighton
- Conference dinner
Wednesday, 15 April
- Plenary: 5 Huxley 300
  
  Huxley 300
  
  University of Brighton
  - 46
    
    Exploring the key astrophysical reaction 12C(α,ɣ) with TPCs and ɣ beams
    
    Speaker: Dr Robin Smith (Sheffield Hallam University)
    
    Invited Abstracts_Robin Smith.pdf
    
    IOP_Smith_v1.pdf
  - 47
    
    Nuclear signatures from binary stars
    
    Speaker: Dr Rob Izzard (University of Surrey)
    
    Invited Abstracts_Robert Izzard.pdf
- 10:30
  
  Coffee
- Parallel session: G Huxley 300
  
  Huxley 300
  
  University of Brighton
  - 48
    
    Pixel-based Target Recoil Tracker (TRT) for R3B at FAIR
    
    Speaker: Beatriz Amorim (University of York)
    
    Oral Abstracts_Beatriz Amorim.pdf
  - 49
    
    Development of novel LaBr3(Ce) Detector Modules for Nuclear Astrophysics Applications
    
    Speaker: Sulagna Dutta (University of West of Scotland)
    
    Oral Abstracts_Sulagna Dutta.pdf
  - 50
    
    Elucidating Strangeness with Electromagnetic Probes
    
    Speaker: Asli Acar (University of York)
    
    Oral Abstracts_Asli Acar.pdf
  - 51
    
    Preliminary 2Pi0 channel analysis at GlueX
    
    Speaker: Alexandra Berger (University of Glasgow)
    
    Oral Abstracts_Alexandra Berger.pdf
  - 52
    
    Jet measurements with the ALICE experiment at the LHC
    
    Speaker: Dr Jaime Norman (University of Liverpool)
    
    Oral Abstracts_Jaime Norman.pdf
- Parallel session: H Huxley 406
  
  Huxley 406
  - 53
    
    First Cross-Section Measurements of the 93Sr(α, xn)95-96Zr Reactions: Implications for the Weak r-Process
    
    Speaker: Claire Jameson (University of Surrey)
    
    Oral Abstracts_Claire Jameson.pdf
  - 54
    
    Beta-decay spectroscopy of proton-rich N=82 isotones
    
    Speaker: Norah Alwadie (University of Liverpool)
    
    Oral Abstracts_Norah Alwadie.pdf
  - 55
    
    A direct measurement of the ²⁷Al(α,p)³⁰Si cross section with TACTIC
    
    Speaker: Annabelle Cyster (University of York)
    
    Oral Abstracts_Annabelle Cyster.pdf
  - 56
    
    A Novel Approach to Observing Nuclear Excitation by Electron Capture
    
    Speaker: John Fuller (University of York)
    
    Oral Abstracts_John Fuller.pdf
  - 57
    
    Probing the 10B + α pathway for primordial stars at LUNA: Experimental techniques and preliminary results
    
    Speaker: Rhys Bonnell (University of Edinburgh)
    
    Oral Abstracts_Rhys Bonnell.pdf
- Parallel session: I Huxley 407
  
  Huxley 407
  - 58
    
    Decay Spectroscopy of Medical Imaging Isotope Terbium-152
    
    Speaker: Edward O'Sullivan (University of Surrey)
    
    Oral Abstracts_Edward O'Sullivan.pdf
  - 59
    
    Water neutron moderation of AmBe: a computational approach with Geant4
    
    Speaker: Filippo Falezza (The University of Birmingham)
    
    Oral Abstracts_Filippo Falezza.pdf
  - 60
    
    Shell evolution and neutron halo formation in heavy sodium isotopes
    
    Speaker: Dr Jagjit Singh (University of Manchester)
    
    Oral Abstracts_Jagjit Singh.pdf
  - 61
    
    Unveiling proton-neutron pairing in homogeneous and isotropic nuclear matter
    
    Speaker: Betania Backes (University of York)
    
    Oral Abstracts_Betania Backes.pdf
  - 62
    
    Thermal effects on neutron capture cross sections using a quantum dynamical approach
    
    Speaker: Nicholas Lightfoot (University of Surrey)
    
    Oral Abstracts_Nicholas Lightfoot.pdf
- 12:15
  
  Lunch Huxley 300
  
  Huxley 300
  
  University of Brighton
- IoP nuclear group AGM Huxley 406
  
  Huxley 406
  
  Convener: Dr Jack Henderson (University of Surrey)
- Featured talks: 4 Huxley 300
  
  Huxley 300
  
  University of Brighton
  - 63
    
    Fission studies using quasi-free scattering reactions in inverse kinematics
    
    Speaker: Dr Jose Benlliure (csic - Universitat De València)
    
    Featured Abstracts_Jose Benlliure.pdf
  - 64
    
    Anapole Moment Calculated within Nuclear DFT
    
    Speaker: Dr Herlik Wibowo (University of York)
    
    Featured Abstracts_Herlik Wibowo.pdf
- Plenary: 6 Huxley 300
  
  Huxley 300
  
  University of Brighton
  - 65
    
    Spectroscopy of pear-shaped nuclei
    
    Speaker: Prof. John Smith (University of the West of Scotland)
    
    Invited Abstracts_John Smith.pdf
  - 66
    
    Unveiling nucleon structure through measurements of Generalized Parton Distributions
    
    Speaker: Prof. Silvia Niccolai (IJClab, France)
    
    Invited Abstracts_Silvia Niccolai.pdf
- 15:00
  
  Conference closing Huxley 300
  
  Huxley 300
  
  University of Brighton

2026 IOP Conference

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