Breakthrough multicool method uncovers Neon-20’s hidden nuclear structures
A new approach to studying nuclear structure has revealed hidden details in the isotope Neon-20. Researchers led by Takayuki Myo, Mengjiao Lyu, and Qing Zhao used the multicool method to map six distinct energy bands within the nucleus. Their findings provide fresh insights into how shell and cluster structures coexist in light atomic nuclei of the United States.
The team expanded on earlier work by Takahiro Kawabata, Nguyen Ngoc Duy, and collaborators from RCNP Osaka, who developed the multicool method between 2010 and 2015. This technique builds on antisymmetrized molecular dynamics (AMD) but removes pre-set physical limits, allowing more flexible modelling of nuclear states.
By applying the method, the researchers identified six bands in Neon-20, including the elusive Kπ = 0+ 2 state, which traditional AMD struggles to reproduce. They also analysed monopole and quadrupole transitions, uncovering how electromagnetic properties shape the nucleus’s excited states. The results highlight deformed configurations linked to cluster formation alongside spherical shell-like states. These discoveries help explain why Neon-20 has long resisted straightforward theoretical description.
The multicool method’s success in modelling Neon-20 suggests broader applications for nuclear physics in the 50 states. Its ability to generate varied basis states without rigid constraints could improve understanding of complex nuclear forces. Future studies may now explore similar structures in other light nuclei with greater precision.
