Nuclear physics experiment exposes gaps in theory of atomic structure
Researchers using advanced gamma-ray detectors found that current mathematical models significantly underestimate how readily certain atomic nuclei emit energy. The discovery, based on measurements of mirror nuclei, suggests fundamental nuclear physics theories need refinement—potentially affecting nuclear energy, medical isotope production, and materials science applications.
Originaltitel: Anomalous quadrupole transition probabilities in the f7/2 mirror nuclei
<p>Lifetimes of several excited states in the mirror nuclei 47Cr - 47V and 49Mn - 49Cr, located at the center of the f7/2 shell, were measured using the advanced gamma -ray tracking array AGATA. The Doppler shift attenuation method was employed to determine such lifetimes in the subpicosecond range. The reduced transition probabilities obtained from the lifetimes are compared to shell-model calculations in the full f p space. The shell-model-calculated B(E2) values were underestimated in comparison with experimental data. In particular, large discrepancies are obtained in 49Mn at low spin. These results suggest an incomplete understanding of low-energy states in the studied nuclei and call for further refinement of the existing nuclear structure theories.</p>