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Exploring ¹⁰⁰Sn: Strong Evidence for its Rare Doubly Magic Properties

Introduction

New experiments at CERN have provided valuable insights into the nuclear characteristics of atomic nuclei, which make up the majority of atomic mass. A major focus has been on understanding Tin-100 (¹⁰⁰Sn), a rare isotope with an equal number of protons and neutrons—50 each.

Magic Numbers in Nuclear Physics

In nuclear physics, these particular counts of protons and neutrons are termed 'magic numbers.' This designation indicates that the isotope possesses fully filled proton and neutron shells, resulting in an exceptionally stable nuclear configuration.

Breakthrough Findings on Tin-100

A team of researchers from MIT, the university of Manchester, CERN, KU Leuven, and other institutions recently presented compelling evidence indicating that Tin-100 (¹⁰⁰Sn) exhibits a doubly magic nucleus. Published in Nature Physics, their findings pave the way for groundbreaking research to test and refine nuclear theories.

Challenges in Understanding Tin-100

Dr. Jonas Karthein, lead author of the paper, "Exploring the nuclear properties near Tin-100 (¹⁰⁰Sn)—believed to be the heaviest doubly magic nucleus with equal proton (Z=50) and neutron (N=50) numbers—has posed a significant challenge for both experimental and theoretical nuclear physics for many years."

"In recent decades, numerous experimental campaigns at leading radioactive beam facilities worldwide have focused on studying isotopes near Tin-100 (¹⁰⁰Sn)."

Isotopes like Tin-100 (¹⁰⁰Sn), with extremely short lifetimes (around one second or less), must be synthesized artificially. Consequently, physicists have only managed to produce them at very low rates, leading to conflicting and inconclusive findings about their structure in past studies.

Advancements in Experimental Techniques

Investigating Nuclear Structure

"Before our study, there was little experimental understanding of the changes in nuclear size and shape as we approach Tin-100 (¹⁰⁰Sn)," remarked Karthein.

"Indium isotopes (Z=49), possessing only one fewer proton than tin, serve as an excellent platform for investigating the evolution of nuclear structure properties near Tin-100 (¹⁰⁰Sn). Recent advancements in indium isotope production at CERN, coupled with our progress in highly sensitive laser spectroscopy, have facilitated the initial measurements in proximity to ¹⁰⁰Sn."

Significant Progress in Nuclear Theory

Recent years have seen notable progress in nuclear theory concerning heavy isotopes like ¹⁰⁰Sn. By gathering extensive experimental evidence regarding the electromagnetic characteristics of ¹⁰⁰Sn, Karthein and his colleagues have confirmed certain theoretical predictions while creating a stringent standard for the advancement of nuclear models.

Prof. Ronald Garcia Ruiz, a co-author of this study, explained, "The recent advancements in the Collinear Resonance Ionization Spectroscopy (CRIS) experiment at CERN-ISOLDE, along with the production of exotic indium isotopes at the facility, enabled us to conduct precision laser spectroscopy on the atomic energy levels of the indium atom, allowing for the extraction of their nuclear electromagnetic properties."

Implications of the Research

Examining Neutron Number Variability

By examining short-lived indium nuclei with varying neutron numbers in comparison to their stable counterparts, we successfully investigated how nuclear shape and size evolve with changes in neutron number, ranging from the naturally occurring isotopes ¹¹³In and ¹¹⁵In to the neutron-deficient ¹°¹In and the neutron-rich ¹³¹In.

Confirming Doubly Magic Nature of ¹⁰⁰Sn

The results obtained by the researchers provide compelling evidence for the doubly magic nature of ¹⁰⁰Sn, a phenomenon predicted by contemporary nuclear theories but not yet definitively confirmed through experimental data. In addition, Karthein and his team conducted comprehensive nuclear calculations employing advanced methodologies, which clarified the structural characteristics of ¹⁰⁰Sn atomic nuclei.

Karthein remarked, "Our results strongly indicate the doubly magic nature of ¹⁰⁰Sn, delivering essential experimental data that aids in elucidating this crucial region of the nuclear chart and resolving inconsistencies from spectroscopy studies across various international facilities. The relatively simple structure of these nuclear systems provides an ideal framework for advancing our theoretical insights into atomic nuclei."

Future Research Directions

The recent work conducted by this research team has the potential to pave the way for significant new directions in the study of atomic nuclei. For example, it will inform forthcoming experiments at large-scale and next-generation research facilities, such as the U.S. Department of Energy's Facility for Rare Isotope Beams (FRIB).

Upcoming Initiatives

These initiatives will facilitate highly precise investigations of ¹⁰⁰Sn and its neighboring isotopes, further illuminating their nuclear properties. Additionally, they will provide theoretical physicists the opportunity to evaluate current theories and models of nuclei in extreme regions far from stability.

Karthein indicated that the CRIS collaboration at CERN intends to push these measurements further into the neutron-deficient isotopes ⁹⁹In and ¹⁰⁰In. He added that the recent independent mass measurements obtained at CERN-ISOLDE highlight the critical need to examine their nuclear electromagnetic properties.

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