The magic nature of 132Sn explored through the single-particle states of 133Sn

Journal Article · Sat May 01 04:00:00 EDT 2010 · Nature

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1038/nature09048· OSTI ID:985782

Jones, K L ^[1]; Adekola, Aderemi S ^[2]; Bardayan, Daniel W ^[2]; Blackmon, Jeff C ^[2]; Chae, K Y ^[1]; Chipps, K ^[3]; Cizewski, J A ^[4]; Erikson, Luke ^[3]; Harlin, Christopher W ^[2]; Hatarik, Robert ^[4]; Kapler, R ^[1]; Kozub, R L ^[5]; Liang, J Felix ^[2]; Livesay, Jake ^[2]; Ma, Zhanwen ^[2]; Moazen, Brian ^[1]; Nesaraja, Caroline D ^[2]; Nunes, F M ^[6]; Pain, S D ^[4]; Patterson, N P ^[7] ; Shapira, Dan ^[2]; ShrinerJr, J F ^[5]; Smith, Michael Scott ^[2]; Swan, T P ^[7]; Thomas, J S ^[4]

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1. University of Tennessee
2. ORNL
3. Colorado School of Mines, Golden
4. Rutgers University
5. Tennessee Technological University
6. Michigan State University, East Lansing
7. University of Surrey, UK

Atomic nuclei have a shell structure1 in which nuclei with magic numbers of neutrons and protons are analogous to the noble gases in atomic physics. Only ten nuclei with the standard magic numbers of both neutrons and protons have so far been observed. The nuclear shell model is founded on the precept that neutrons and protons can move as independent particles in orbitals with discrete quantum numbers, subject to a mean field generated by all the other nucleons. Knowledge of the properties of single-particle states outside nuclear shell closures in exotic nuclei is important2 5 for a fundamental understanding of nuclear structure and nucleosynthesis (for example the r-process, which is responsible for the production of about half of the heavy elements). However, as a result of their short lifetimes, there is a paucity of knowledge about the nature of single-particle states outside exotic doubly magic nuclei. Here we measure the single-particle character of the levels in 133Sn that lies outside the double shell closure present at the short-lived nucleus 132Sn. We use an inverse kinematics technique that involves the transfer of a single nucleon to the nucleus. The purity of the measured single-particle states clearly illustrates the magic nature of 132Sn.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL); Holifield Radioactive Ion Beam Facility
• Sponsoring Organization: SC USDOE - Office of Science (SC)
• DOE Contract Number: AC05-00OR22725
• OSTI ID: 985782
• Journal Information: Nature, Journal Name: Nature Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 465; ISSN 1476-4687; ISSN 0028-0836
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS
73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS
74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS
ATOMIC PHYSICS
CLOSURES
MAGIC NUCLEI
NEUTRONS
NUCLEAR STRUCTURE
NUCLEI
NUCLEONS
NUCLEOSYNTHESIS
PRODUCTION
PROTONS
QUANTUM NUMBERS
R PROCESS
RARE GASES
SHELL MODELS