TUNL: Revealing 50 Years of Excellence in Nuclear Physics

Undergraduate: Lucas deHart

Faculty Advisor: Christian Iliadis
Department: Physics & Astronomy

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The Triangle Universities Nuclear Labs are a collection of nuclear physics research laboratories located in Durham North Carolina on the campus of Duke University. TUNL is a unique institution, representing a collaborative research effort with major contributions from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, North Carolina State University, Duke University, and recently, increasing involvement from North Carolina Central University. Despite recognition from the Department of Energy as one of only four centers of excellence in nuclear physics in the nation, TUNL remains relatively unknown. General knowledge of the existence of TUNL is low, even on the constituent University campuses. The goal of this project is to investigate the history of this unique organization of researchers and to share that history with the public. The primary product of this project is a series of videos based on interviews with researchers who work at TUNL. The videos cover a range of topics, including the history and founding of TUNL, a basic description of nuclear physics, the kinds of research performed at each currently operating facility, and some information on TUNL's recent collaborations with other departments and institutions. TUNL remains an important center for nuclear physics research and education, and could serve as an inspiration for the next generation of American scientists.