Rhys Bonnell
PhD Student in Experimental Nuclear Astrophysics
School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Edinburgh (UK)
Email: r.bonnell@sms.ed.ac.uk
Background
Rhys obtained his Bachelor of Science in Physics from Swansea University. He later pursued a Master of Science in Particles, Strings, and Cosmology at Durham University, where he studied at the Institute for Particle Physics Phenomenology (IPPP) and the Mathematics Department. He is currently a PhD student at the University of Edinburgh, focusing on the 10B(α,n)13N interaction at astrophysical energies under the supervision of Prof. Marialuisa Aliotta.
Research Interests
Rhys' research focuses on the experimental investigation of nuclear reactions and the optimisation of detection techniques. He is currently studying the 10B(α,n)13N fusion interaction at LUNA, aiming to measure and characterise this reaction at astrophysical energies. This work involves detailed detector analysis and configuration, including the use of a 4π BGO scintillator array within the LUNA-400 experimental setup at the Laboratori Nazionali del Gran Sasso (LNGS). Rhys has a keen interest in detector technologies, including semiconductor detectors, gamma-ray detection through scintillators, and neutron detection—both via activation methods and direct measurement using EJ-301D scintillators.