New spectroscopy method enables direct comparisons of nuclear sizes across heavy elements

by National Institutes of Natural Sciences

edited by Sadie Harley , reviewed by Robert Egan

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Add to Preferred Sources Specialized apparatus for HCI spectroscopy at the Institute for Laser Science, The University of Electro-Communications. Credit: UEC The size of a nucleus (nuclear charge radius) is an important physical quantity that reflects the arrangement of protons and neutrons within the nucleus. Particularly in deformed nuclei, such as those of rare-earth elements, examining changes in the charge radius can deepen our understanding of nuclear structure and nuclear deformation.

Until now, electron scattering experiments, muon atomic spectroscopy and laser spectroscopy of neutral atoms and singly charged ions have been used to measure nuclear radii; however, it has not been easy to directly compare different elements.