202 FRIB Graduate Brochure

Artemis Spyrou
Professor of Physics
Keywords: Experimental Nuclear Astrophysics, Nucleosynthesis SuN Detector,
Nuclear Reactions
Experimental Nuclear Astrophysics
About
• MS, Physics, National Technical University of Athens,
2003
• PhD, Physics, National Technical University of
Athens, 2007
• Joined the laboratory in May 2007
• spyrou@frib.msu.edu
Research
My research is in the field of nuclear astrophysics. One
of the most important questions we are trying to answer
is how the elements we see around us are created in the
Universe. Today we know that most of these elements
are synthesized inside stars. Some of these processes
take place in stellar explosions, like supernovae, and they
involve very exotic nuclei. My group studies the nuclear
reactions that drive these stellar processes. To study these
exotic nuclear reactions my group developed one of the
most efficient γ-ray detectors in the world, SuN. We have
used SuN at many different locations in the laboratory
as well as at other nuclear physics facilities in the United
States. For our experiments we collaborate with other
groups in the laboratory and from all over the world, like
Norway, Canada, South Africa, and the United Kingdom.
We each bring different expertise and work together to
answer the important question: “How are the elements
formed in the Universe?”
How Students can Contribute as Part
of my Research Team
Students in my group work on all aspects of nuclear
astrophysics, and often focus more or less on particular
projects based on their interests. They prepare and run
experiments, perform simulations, analyze data, propose
new experiments, run theoretical and astrophysical
calculations, contribute in new experimental developments,
and travel to other labs for experiments. This is one of my
favorite parts about this field; it’s a group effort but at the
same time everyone gets to experience every part of the
work. The day-to-day activities change all the time so it’s
never boring. The cycle of an experiment, from proposal,
to execution, analysis, interpretation, and publication
takes about five years, which is perfect for the timeline of
a graduate student.
Selected Publications
Strong Neutron-γ Competition above the Neutron
Threshold in the Decay of 70 Co, A. Spyrou, S. N. Liddick, et
al. Physical Review Letters 117 (2016) 142701
Novel technique for constraining r-process (n,γ) reaction
rates. A. Spyrou, S.N. Liddick et. al., Physical Review
Letters 113 (2014) 232502
Experimental Neutron Capture Rate Constraint far from
stability. S.N. Liddick, A. Spyrou, et al, Physical Review
Letters 116 (2016) 242502
Biography
I was born in Cyprus, in the beautiful city of Limassol. In
1997 I moved to Greece, where I pursued my undergraduate
studies in the Physics Department of the Aristotle
University of Thessaloniki. During my senior year I found
myself falling in love with every nuclear physics class I took.
After my graduation, in 2001, I started my graduate studies
in experimental nuclear astrophysics at the Institute of
Nuclear Physics, NCSR “Demokritos,” Athens, Greece
and the National Technical University of Athens. For my
PhD work, I used the local 5MV Tandem accelerator, as
well as the Dynamitron Tandem accelerator (DTL) of the
University of Bochum, Germany. Since 2007, I have been
at the National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory
(NSCL) and the Department of Physics and Astronomy
at Michigan State University (MSU). At MSU, I have held
various appointments (Research Associate, Assistant
Professor, Associate Professor), and currently I am a
Professor of Physics and the Faculty Outreach Advisor for
FRIB.
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The SuN detector is shown next to an artist’s rendition of
astronomical events.
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