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In this podcast, Dr. Robin Smith, Lecturer in Physics, Sheffield Hallam University\\u2014UK, discusses nuclear physics research topics, experiments in nuclear physics, and the forces that govern all matter in the universe.

Dr. Smith holds a Ph.D. in nuclear physics from the University of Birmingham. He is a lecturer in physics and focuses his work in the areas of nuclear data and structure, nuclear astrophysics, radiation detection, and atomic nuclei, amongst others.\\xa0

Dr. Smith discusses nuclear physics\\u2014his area of specialty, and what got him motivated to make this area of study his major work focus. As it turned out, smashing nuclei was of great interest to him, and after many senior-level experiments, he was hooked. Dr. Smith talks in-depth about why he chose to study the atomic nucleus in detail. He provides information on the essential building blocks of life\\u2014atoms, and discusses what we know and have known from a historical perspective. Dr. Smith explains the atom\\u2019s structure and he discusses the density of the atomic nucleus.\\xa0

Dr. Smith provides additional info on the four fundamental forces that govern matter in the universe\\u2014the electromagnetic force, the weak force, the strong force, and of course gravity. Dr. Smith explains how the forces work, discussing gravity in detail and its effects as well as the binding structures that play a role. He talks about quantum mechanics, and how it came from the Schr\\xf6dinger equation, a differential equation that describes the wave function, or state function, etc., of a quantum-mechanical system.\\xa0

Continuing, Dr. Smith provides an analysis of certain characteristics of the stars in our galaxy, heavy elements, and forces that exist as well. He talks in detail on the subjects of carbon and excited states within nuclei and discusses many of the theories that exist in regard to molecules and molecular physics. Going further, he explains his research in colliding and the concept of decay behavior, specifically regarding carbon-12, which is the most common natural carbon isotope. Regarding colliding, he explains how changes occur dependent upon what projectile is being fired at carbon-12. And wrapping up, Dr. Smith discusses the interesting theories of Sir Fred Hoyle, the English astronomer who formulated the theory of stellar nucleosynthesis.

In this podcast:

• An overview of quantum mechanics
• A discussion of the atomic nucleus and its function
• An explanation of the various forces that exist in the galaxy