Aluminium-20 Defies Nuclear Norms with Rare Triple-Proton Breakup

Quick Summary:

• Researchers at the Institute of Modern Physics (IMP) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) published a study in Physical Review Letters, reporting the first observation and spectroscopy of aluminium-20.
• Aluminium-20 is an unstable isotope that decays via rare three-proton emission, making it the lightest aluminium isotope discovered so far.
• This nucleus was observed using in-flight decay techniques at Germany’s GSI Helmholtz Centre’s Fragment Separator.
• The decay process involves one-proton emission to form magnesium-19,followed by simultaneous two-proton emission from magnesium-19,marking aluminium-20 as a unique three-proton emitter.
• Findings suggest smaller decay energy in aluminium-20 than theoretically predicted, pointing to potential isospin symmetry breaking with its mirror partner neon-20.
• Advanced theoretical calculations propose differing spin-parity properties between aluminium-20 and neon-a significant insight into nuclear structure beyond stability regions.

– Researchers note that expanding studies on proton emission phenomena enhances understanding nuclei structures where exotic radioactive processes happen.

The international research collaboration included contributions from Fudan University alongside numerous .

Supported funds