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Department of Chemistry, Indiana University, Bloomington
Professor Viola received his B.A. degree from the University of Kansas, 1957 and the Ph.D. degree from the University of California, Berkeley in 1961. He was a postdoctoral fellow, University of California, 1961-62; NSF and Ford Postdoctoral Fellow, Centre Europeenne pour la Recherche Nucleaire, Geneva, Switzerland, 1963-64; Research Associate, Argonne National Laboratory, 1964-66.
Professor Viola has received the ACS Award for Nuclear Chemistry, 1986; Chairman, Division of Nuclear Chemistry and Technology, American Chemical Society, 1980; Guggenheim Fellow, 1980-81; Fellow, American Physical Society, 1986; Fellow, American Association for the Advancement of Science, 1987. Professor Viola has published 250 papers in refereed journals and major conference proceedings; one textbook, and has held numerous professional and editorial responsibilities. He served as director of the Indiana University Cyclotron Facility from 1986-87.
His research interests are: (1) Dynamics of Collisions between
Complex Nuclei. These investigations have focused on understanding
the transport of energy and matter when two complex nuclei collide,
and the subsequent evolution of these unique physical systems.
The ultimate goal is to understand the "equation of state"
of nuclear matter; (i.e. the behavior of atomic nuclei under extreme
conditions of temperature and pressure). This is important not
only for the understanding of nuclei, but also the properties
of astrophysical bodies such as supernovae and neutron stars.
During the past few years, this work has evolved into a study
of "explosion-like" disintegrations of the nucleus,
which occur on a very fast time scale (<10-21 sec).
A new detector system has been constructed that is among the
most sensitive in the world for such studies; (2) Nuclear Astrophysics.
The origin of the chemical elements has also been a long-standing
priority of our research program. The synthesis of elements induced
in the interstellar medium by galactic cosmic rays has been the
primary concern. Our measurements have shown can account for
the isotopes 6Li, 9Be, 10,11B
in nature. In addition, the studies have important implications
relative to the matter density of the universe and its big bang
origin; and (3) Chemical Education. The teaching of nuclear phenomena
to students at a broad level--high school through graduate--has
also been an area of major emphasis.
Home: (812) 336-3551; Office: (812) 855-2878/6537; Fax: (812)
855-6645; E-mail: vicv@iucf.indiana.edu