A1 Journal article (refereed)
Evidence of a sudden increase in the nuclear size of proton-rich silver-96 (2021)

Reponen, M., de Groote, R. P., Al Ayoubi, L., Beliuskina, O., Bissell, M. L., Campbell, P., Cañete, L., Cheal, B., Chrysalidis, K., Delafosse, C., de Roubin, A., Devlin, C. S., Eronen, T., Garcia Ruiz, R. F., Geldhof, S., Gins, W., Hukkanen, M., Imgram, P., Kankainen, A., . . . Moore, I. D. (2021). Evidence of a sudden increase in the nuclear size of proton-rich silver-96. Nature Communications, 12, Article 4596. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-021-24888-x

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Publication details

All authors or editors: Reponen, M.; de Groote, R. P.; Al Ayoubi, L.; Beliuskina, O.; Bissell, M. L.; Campbell, P.; Cañete, L.; Cheal, B.; Chrysalidis, K.; Delafosse, C.; et al.

Journal or series: Nature Communications

eISSN: 2041-1723

Publication year: 2021

Publication date: 28/07/2021

Volume: 12

Article number: 4596

Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC

Publication country: United Kingdom

Publication language: English

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-021-24888-x

Publication open access: Openly available

Publication channel open access: Open Access channel

Publication is parallel published (JYX): https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/77283

Abstract

Understanding the evolution of the nuclear charge radius is one of the long-standing challenges for nuclear theory. Recently, density functional theory calculations utilizing Fayans functionals have successfully reproduced the charge radii of a variety of exotic isotopes. However, difficulties in the isotope production have hindered testing these models in the immediate region of the nuclear chart below the heaviest self-conjugate doubly-magic nucleus 100Sn, where the near-equal number of protons (Z) and neutrons (N) lead to enhanced neutron-proton pairing. Here, we present an optical excursion into this region by crossing the N = 50 magic neutron number in the silver isotopic chain with the measurement of the charge radius of 96Ag (N = 49). The results provide a challenge for nuclear theory: calculations are unable to reproduce the pronounced discontinuity in the charge radii as one moves below N = 50. The technical advancements in this work open the N = Z region below 100Sn for further optical studies, which will lead to more comprehensive input for nuclear theory development.

Keywords: nuclear physics; isotopes

Free keywords: experimental nuclear physics; theoretical nuclear physics

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Ministry reporting: Yes

Reporting Year: 2021

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