November 2, 2024

New Pumpkin-Shaped Atomic Nucleus Radiates Protons at Record-Setting Rate

Artists impression of the decay of a 149Lu nucleus into a 148Yb nucleus and a proton. Credit: University of Jyväskylä
A new atomic nucleus 149-Lutetium, including 71 protons and 78 neutrons, has actually been manufactured in an experiment performed in the Accelerator Laboratory of University of Jyväskylä
The new isotope was discovered among the products of combination of 58Ni beam particles and 96Ru target atoms, and it was identified in the detector setup of the MARA (Mass Analysing Recoil Apparatus) separator. 149Lu was discovered to decay into 148Yb by means of spontaneous proton emission, which is an unusual nuclear decay mode. Decay homes of 149Lu were measured to be remarkable; It has the greatest decay energy and the fastest straight determined half-life of any ground-state proton emitter understood to date.
Two examples of a trace recorded for the quick proton decay of 149Lu. Credit: University of Jyväskylä.
Observation of the speedy decay was enabled by contemporary digital signal handling that enables “traces” to be taped, see the figure above for a number of examples. Additionally, it was discovered by means of contrast to theoretical computations that it is the most oblate deformed (” pumpkin formed”) proton emitter.

When the designs of proton emission are checked against such a strong oblate deformation, this is the first instance. These observations will help to develop the theory of proton emission as well as the atomic mass designs for the most unique isotopes, both models are required to understand the origin of the aspects. The outcomes of this research study have actually been released as the Editors Suggestion in Physical Review Letters.
Recommendation: “Nanosecond-Scale Proton Emission from Strongly Oblate-Deformed 149Lu” by K. Auranen et al., 16 March 2022, Physical Review Letters.DOI: 10.1103/ PhysRevLett.128.112501.

By University of Jyväskylä
April 28, 2022

149Lu was found to decay into 148Yb through spontaneous proton emission, which is an unusual nuclear decay mode. Decay properties of 149Lu were determined to be extraordinary; It has the highest decay energy and the shortest directly determined half-life of any ground-state proton emitter understood to date.
These observations will assist to develop the theory of proton emission as well as the atomic mass models for the most unique isotopes, both designs are required to comprehend the origin of the aspects.