Nucleus Stability with Varying Number of Neutrons

(CERN, June 19, 2013)

The classical shell model of nuclear physics shows that atoms with specific 'magic' numbers (2, 8, 20, etc.) of protons and electrons have greater stability and are more tightly bound. More recent developments show that the number of neutrons in a nucleus also affect stability and follow a similar magic number pattern. Scientists running the ISOLTRAP experiment at the European Center for Nuclear Research (CERN) have been experimenting with isotopes of calcium and have been able to verify theoretical results for a range of exotic isotopes, up to calcium-52.