Evidence for prevalent Z = 6 magic number in neutron-rich carbon isotopes.

ABSTRACT: The nuclear shell structure, which originates in the nearly independent motion of nucleons in an average potential, provides an important guide for our understanding of nuclear structure and the underlying nuclear forces. Its most remarkable fingerprint is the existence of the so-called magic numbers of protons and neutrons associated with extra stability. Although the introduction of a phenomenological spin-orbit (SO) coupling force in 1949 helped in explaining the magic numbers, its origins are still open questions. Here, we present experimental evidence for the smallest SO-originated magic number (subshell closure) at the proton number six in ^13-20C obtained from systematic analysis of point-proton distribution radii, electromagnetic transition rates and atomic masses of ligh

SUBMITTER: Tran DT 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5913314 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature