Speaker
Description
Atomic nuclei and their properties play a crucial role in many astrophysical events, such as novae, x-ray bursts or neutron-star mergers. Understanding nuclei is pivotal to address fundamental questions, such as where and how chemical elements are formed in the Universe and what is the nature of matter in the extreme conditions of compact astrophysical objects. Nuclear astrophysics connects nuclear data with astrophysical models and observations to shed light on these phenomena and questions. Spanning from femtometer-sized nuclei to astronomical scales and from accelerator laboratory experiments to space-based observations, pathways in nuclear astrophysics are fascinating but not obvious. In this contribution, I will present pathways and research in nuclear astrophysics from my point of view as an experimental nuclear physicist doing high-precision atomic mass measurements and experiments with radioactive ion beams.
