Frontiers in Muon Science: From Muon-Catalyzed Fusion to Searches for New Physics

by Prof. Xurong Chen（陈旭荣） (Institute of Modern Physics , CAS)

Wednesday 14 Oct 2026, 12:00 → 13:30 Asia/Shanghai

5#/6th-603 - Meeting Room 603 (Science Building)

Abstract:

First gamma beams at ELI-NP are expected to be delivered in early 2027. While waiting for this event, the experimental setup have been constructed and a large number of physics studies, which complement the ELI-NP gamma-beam physics program, were performed. For example, in the period 2022-2025 four experimental campaigns were carried out at the 9 MW tandem accelerator of IFIN-HH using the largevolume LaBr3:Ce and CeBr3 detectors of the ELIGANT-GN array which were placed in the anti-Compton shields of the ROSPHERE array [1]. As a result, a high-efficient spectrometer, nick-named ELIFANT, was assembled for detection of high-energy gamma rays. ELIFANT was coupled to a Si DSSD placed at either forward, or backward angles. In the experiments, nuclear level densities and Muon-catalyzed fusion (μCF) offers a distinctive pathway to fusion at low temperatures. By replacing an electron, a negative muon brings deuterium and tritium nuclei closer together, greatly enhancing quantum tunnelling. Despite experimental demonstrations of over a hundred fusion events per muon, further progress is limited by alpha-particle sticking, muon-production efficiency, and the overall energy balance of the system.
This talk will review the fundamental mechanisms and key challenges of μCF, exploring potential strategies to enhance catalytic efficiency and the opportunities offered by major scientific facilities in Huizhou, including HIAF and CiADS, for future muon-beam and fusion research.
Beyond fusion, muons provide powerful probes of fundamental interactions. Rare decays and precision measurements offer unique opportunities to test lepton universality, search for charged-lepton flavor violation, and probe physics beyond the Standard Model. By connecting particle physics, nuclear physics, and future energy research, muon science opens new avenues for both fundamental discovery and technological exploration.
γ-strength functions, were studied, as well as weak γ-ray transitions in light nuclei. In addition, (d,p) reactions were explored for population of PDR excitations in 54Cr and 62Ni. In the talk the performance of the spectrometer will be described, the goals of the campaigns will be summarized and first results will be presented, the γ-ray spectroscopy in 10B [2], the γ-strength functions in 112,114Sn [3] and first results from the (d,p) experiments. The ELIGANT-GN array was also used to study neutron and γ-ray angular and energy correlations in spontaneous fission of 252Cf [4]. In the talk, measured double or triple neutron correlations will be reported. Finally, the 4π Si DSSD array, ELISSA, was used for cross-section measurements of chargedparticle reactions of astrophysics interest. Results from such experiments at ELI-NP, the INFN LNS, and HIγS, Duke University will be presented.

Biography:

Prof. Xurong Chen is a professor at the Institute of Modern Physics (IMP), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS). He is a recipient of the CAS Hundred Talents Program and has been recognized as an Outstanding Mentor by CAS. He also leads the muon and precision physics program at the Southern Nuclear Science Theory Center. His research spans high-energy nuclear physics, hadron structure, and muon physics, with a particular focus on the internal structure of nucleons, the fundamental dynamics of the strong interaction, and precision studies of muons. He is committed to advancing fundamental physics while fostering interdisciplinary connections with future fusion energy and advanced nuclear science and technology. He has published more than 200 scientific papers.

Host: Prof. Liang Li

Alternative online link：https://meeting.tencent.com/dm/Ou1bswE2Zfcw

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