9512104 Becchetti Studies of nuclear reactions induced by unstable, short-lived nuclear particles will be carried out, providing insight into how the elements are formed in supernova and in the Big Bang. The latter takes place on short time scales and involve the type of nuclear reactions to be studied in this work. These studies bear on the origin and nature of dark matter. The synthesis of yet unknown types of nuclei an atoms will be pursued and their characteristics studies. These are topics of great current interest within the field. The experiments will be performed primarily at the National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory (MSU, E. Lansing, MI) and at the University of Notre Dame Nuclear Science Laboratory (South Bend, IN). Specially designed large superconducting magnets and associated nuclear particle imaging detectors will be utilized in the experiments. Both graduate and undergraduate students will participate in the development and utilization of this equipment. The students trained in this research will acquire a broad range of "hands-on" scientific skills to permit them to pursue careers in any of several areas related to academic and industrial research,or teaching. ***
