| Subject: | Theoretical nuclear physics |
| Degree: | Department of Physics, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki |
| PhD: | Department of Physics, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki PhD Thesis: Theoretical analysis of heavy ion collisions |
| Research Interests: | Theoretical Physics-Nuclear Fission-Nuclear Structure – Nuclear Reactions – Quantum Physics- Nuclear Astrophysics – Mathematical Physics -Computational Physics |
| Office: | 220, 2nd Floor, Building Β |
| Contact with students: | Monday & Friday 12:00-14:00 |
| E-mail: | vprassa@uth.gr |
| Personal webpage: |
Vaia Prassa (V.P.) received her Bachelor degree in Physics in 2003 and her Master degree in Computational physics in 2005 from Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. In 2010 she was awarded a PhD in Theoretical Physics. As a master and later PhD student, V.P. developed a solid command of nuclear theory, quantum physics, quantum field theory and reaction dynamics. Her PhD work included the study, extension and improvement of covariant transport theories for relativistic heavy ion collisions. Focusing on simulation methods of complex phenomena and processes, V.P. gained valuable experience in developing advanced computational codes for modeling the dynamics of nuclear systems, and in applying these powerful theoretical tools in studies of nuclear reactions. During her research stays at LNS-INFN Catania, and Ludwig Maximilian University Munich, she worked with some of the most renowned researchers in the field of reaction theory. Working in the field of theoretical nuclear physics Dr. V. Prassa acquired a sound foundation for a successful career in research. As a postdoctoral fellow at University of Thessaly (Stavros Niarchos Foundation Fellowship, 2017 – 2021), University of Zagreb (Marie Skłodowska Curie FP7 PEOPLE 2011 COFUND-NEWFELPRO Fellowship, 2014-2016), University of Jyvaskyla (FiDiPro the Finland Distinguished Professor Programme, 2012-2014), Aristotle University (Greek Scholarship Foundation, 2010-2012), V.P. engaged in studies of complex nuclear phenomena that determine the structure of super-heavy atomic nuclei and the process of nuclear fission.
V.P.s research activity covers a wide range of nuclear phenomena: nuclear ground state properties and excitations, nuclear fission, heavy ion reactions, nuclear astrophysics and nuclear density functionals. At the same time, her research includes the development and application of mathematical methods, algebraic models and computational tools in the modeling and simulation of physical phenomena.
The results of her research are published in 36 articles in international peer-reviewed journals, and conference proceedings. These publications have attracted considerable interest not only among nuclear theorists, but also in the community of nuclear experimentalists. She has been invited as a speaker at international conferences (SDANCA 2021, EURISOL 2013) and international seminar programs (Kavli Institute for Theoretical Physics China (KITPC) – Beijing – 2012 and Institute for Nuclear Theory (INT) Program, University of Washington – USA – 2011). She has also been invited to present seminar talks at the GANIL research center in Caen, France (2011) and at the National Center for Scientific Research (NCSR) Democritus (2010 and 2021). A poster at the Gordon Research Conference, U.S. 2011 was awarded a prize and an oral presentation. Recently (April 2021) she was invited to the Hellenic Preliminaries of the PLANCKS 2021 competition on Theoretical Physics organized by the students of the Physics department of the University of Thessaly. In total she has presented her work in 30 scientific conferences, workshops and summer schools and has participated in an additional 6.
In addition to being engaged in research activities, V.P. also acquired teaching experience as an adjunct Lecturer in Greece and abroad (Aristotle University, University of Thessaly, Hellenic Open University, University of Zagreb, ATEI of Central Greece, ATEI of Thessaly) in several bachelor and master courses including Physics, Mathematics, Informatics and Education of Natural Sciences. Her teaching duties and responsibilities included the co-supervision of one master and two bachelor theses
- V. Prassa and K.E. Karakatsanis, “Shape evolution of Hg isotopes within the covariant density functional theory”, International Journal of Modern Physics E, Vol. 30, No. 07, 2150054 (2021) ; https://dx.doi.org/10.1142/S0218301321500543
- K.E. Karakatsanis, G.A Lalazissis, V. Prassa, and P. Ring, “Two quasiparticle K-isomers within the covariant density functional theory”, Phys. Rev. C 102, 034311 (2020); https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevC.102.034311
- V. Prassa, Bing-Nan Lu, T. Niksic, D. Vretenar, “High-K isomers in transactinide nuclei close to N = 162”, Phys. Rev. C 91, 034324 (2015); http://journals.aps.org/prc/abstract/10.1103/PhysRevC.91.034324
- V. Prassa, T. Niksic, D. Vretenar, “Structure of transactinide nuclei with relativistic energy density functionals”, Phys. Rev. C 88, 044324 (2013); http://journals.aps.org/prc/abstract/10.1103/PhysRevC.88.044324
- V. Prassa, T. Niksic, G. A. Lalazissis, D. Vretenar, “Relativistic Energy Density Functional Description of Shape Transition in Superheavy Nuclei”, Phys. Rev. C 86, 024317 (2012); http://link.aps.org/doi/10.1103/PhysRevC.86.024317
- V. Prassa, T. Gaitanos, G. Ferini, M. Di Toro, G. A. Lalazissis, H. H. Wolter, “Isospin Effects on Strangeness in Heavy-Ion Collisions”, Nucl. Phys. A 832 88-99 (2010); http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.nuclphysa.2009.11.009.
