Research Interests

Rob Hoffman's PhD thesis and subsequent work focused on nucleosynthesis in the Neutrino-Driven Wind in core collapse supernovae and the astrophysical site of the r-process. His primary research focus is the development of accurate nuclear reaction cross sections used in radiochemical analysis techniques to determine device performance assessments of historical underground tests for the Stockpile Stewardship Program. He has also applied this knowledge to develop a radiochemical diagnostic capability on the National Ignition Facility. His recent work has explored the impact of atomic processes affecting the populations of nuclear excited states and their influence on radiochemistry on the National Ignition Facility. Most recently Hoffman has worked on quantification of uncertainties in the production of fission fragments and their use in determining fission yields from historical underground tests. His other research interests include nuclear physics affecting the creation of atomic nuclei in massive stars and supernova physics. This involves theory and experiment.

Postdoctoral Appointment, Steward Observatory, Univ. of Tucson, AZ

Ph.D., Astrophysics, University of California at Santa Cruz, 1996

1. Hoffman, R.D., Zimmerman, G.A., Chen, M., & Cerjan, C., "Nuclear Plasma Interactions on the National Ignition Facility", Stockpile Stewardship Quarterly, Vol. 2, #4, 5 (2013).
2. Roberts, L., Woosley, S.E. & Hoffman, R.D. "Integrated Nucleosynthesis in the Neutrino-Driven Wind", The Astrophysical Journal, 722, 954 (2010).
3. Hoffman, R.D., Sheets, S.A., Burke, J.T., Scielzo, N.D., & Norman, E.B. et al. "Reaction Rate Sensitivity of Ti-44 Production in Massive Stars and Implications of a Thick Target Yield Measurement of Ca-40(a,g)Ti-44, The Astrophysical Journal, 715, 1383 (2010).
4. Fisker, J.L., Hoffman, R.D., & Pruet, J., "On the Origin of the Lightest Molybdenum Isotopes", The Astrophysical Journal, 690, L135 (2009).
5. Colvin, J., Cerjan, C., Hoffman, R.D., et al., "Radiochemical Tracers as a Mix Diagnostic for the Ignition Double-Shell Capsule", Physics of Plasmas, 15, 102704 (2008).
6. Hoffman, R.D., Mueller, B., & Janka, H.T., "Nucleosynthesis in O-Ne-Mg Supernovae", The Astrophysical Journal, 676, L127 (2008).
7. Pruet, J., Hoffman, R.D., Woosley, S.E., Janka, H.T., & Buras, R., "Nucleosynthesis in Early Supernova Winds II. The Role of Neutrinos", The Astrophysical Journal, 644, 1028 (2006).