Liquid-drop model for extremely neutron rich nuclei
Nuclear energy levels are characterized in part by their isospin quantum numbers. Ordinary nuclides are well described by an independent-particle model with ground-state isospins equal to the minimum possible value T{sub min} = abs(A/2 {minus} Z). It has been suggested that extremely neutron rich nuclei constitute a second branch of the table of isotopes whose ground states have the maximum possible isospin T{sub max} = A/2 and that neutral members of the T{sub max} branch (i.e., polyneutrons) serve as mediating particles for the new class of nuclear reactions discovered by Fleischmann and Pons. The energetics of the new reactions have been qualitatively described by a liquid-drop model. Recent measurements of the mass spectrum of reaction products produced in the new reactions make possible a refinement of the model, providing an explanation for gaps of instability separating ranges of stability in the mass spectrum.
- OSTI ID:
- 638414
- Journal Information:
- Fusion Technology, Vol. 34, Issue 1; Other Information: PBD: Aug 1998
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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