Neutron-deficient nuclei studied with stable and radioactive beams

Neutron-deficient nuclei close to the proton drip-line have been studied intensively in recent years. Measurements of ground-state proton emitters have mapped out the limits of nuclear stability above 100Sn. Suchexperiments have allowed us to learn about the single-particle shell structure far from stability. Studies of γ-rays from N=Z nuclei produced in fusion-evaporation reactions have revealed that their properties vary rapidly with small changes in Z, N and A because of large oblate and prolate shell gaps at large deformation. Studies of these nuclei also reveal information about isospin mixing as a function of mass and potentially yield information about n-p pairing. The astrophysical rp-process pathway lies close to the N=Z line. Studies of fragmentation reactions have allowed us to determine a lot of the information needed to analyse the rp-process in detail. All of this information is limited, however, by the constraint of using stable beams and targets. With beams of radioactive nuclei, classical spectroscopic techniques such as Coulomb excitation and particle transfer studies will allow us to map out level properties in detail in nuclei far from stability. Studies of fusion-evaporation reactions with beams of radioactive ions by using new, more sensitive detection techniques will allow us to study nuclei up to and beyond the drip-line in nuclei above 100Sn. At the same time such studies will allow us much greater access to the lighter N=Z nuclei.