A doubly magic nucleus
JUL 09, 2009
DOI: 10.1063/PT.5.023494
Nature : Physicists often state that nuclear shell structure—the way in which protons and neutrons are arranged within a nucleus—is the cornerstone of any satisfactory description of an atomic nucleus. But over the past decade it has become apparent that the exact number of particles required to fill a particular shell is not as fixed as was once thought. The results of two experiments, one by Kanungo et al. reported in Physical Review Letters , and the other by Hoffman et al. in Physics Letters B , add significantly to the discussion. They demonstrate that 24O, the oxygen isotope with proton number Z = 8 and neutron number N = 16, is a doubly magic nucleus. This result is all the more surprising because 24O is also the heaviest oxygen isotope to exist. Related Links One-neutron removal measurement reveals 24O as a new doubly magic nucleus Evidence for a doubly magic 24O
© 2009 American Institute of Physics
