Tests confirm nickel-78 is a 'doubly magic' isotope
Friday, September 5, 2014 - 07:31
in Physics & Chemistry
The stability of atoms can vary considerably from one element to the next, and also between isotopes of the same element (whose nuclei contain the same number of protons but different numbers of neutrons). While many isotopes are unstable and rapidly undergo radioactive decay, certain 'magic' isotopes show exceptional stability. Clarifying the properties of these stable isotopes is essential for understanding how the chemical elements formed in the early Universe. In an important step toward verifying various theoretical models, Shunji Nishimura and colleagues from the RIKEN Nishina Center for Accelerator-Based Science have now verified the magic numbers of an enigmatic 'doubly magic' isotope, nickel-78.