Wanpeng Tan

Wanpeng Tan is an Associate Research Professor in the Department of Physics & Astronomy at the University of Notre Dame. His research focuses on nuclear astrophysics, particularly stellar burning processes and experimental technologies. He leads projects involving the SAND detector array and the upgraded fIREBAll system for studying nuclear reactions critical to stellar evolution.

• Education:
• B.S., Beijing University, 1994
• M.S., Chinese Academy of Sciences, 1997
• Ph.D., Michigan State University, 2002

His research interests include carbon and oxygen burning reactions (e.g., 12C+12C, 12C+16O), development of experimental techniques like particle-gamma coincidence methods, and theoretical explorations of mirror matter. He has pioneered the ICEBall-to-fIREBAll detector transition for studying cluster states and ab-initio model validation.

Collaborations include the Nuclear Science Laboratory (NSL) at Notre Dame and the St. ANA accelerator facility. His work bridges experimental nuclear physics with astrophysical phenomena such as supernovae and X-ray bursts.

Lab affiliations include the Notre Dame Nuclear Science Laboratory, where he oversees detector systems for precision measurements.