Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 12, 2026

Study of Protein Dynamics via Neutron Spin Echo Spectroscopy
Published on: April 13, 2022
Migration of nuclear shell gaps studied in the d(24Ne,pγ)25Ne reaction
W N Catford1, C N Timis, R C Lemmon
1Department of Physics, University of Surrey, Guildford GU2 5XH, United Kingdom.
Abstract:
The transfer of neutrons onto 24Ne has been measured using a reaccelerated radioactive beam of 24Ne to study the (d,p) reaction in inverse kinematics. The unusual raising of the first 3/2+ level in 25Ne and its significance in terms of the migration of the neutron magic number from N=20 to N=16 is put on a firm footing by confirmation of this state's identity. The raised 3/2+ level is observed simultaneously with the intruder negative parity 7/2- and 3/2- levels, providing evidence for the reduction in the N=20 gap. The coincident gamma-ray decays allowed the assignment of spins as well as the transferred orbital angular momentum. The excitation energy of the 3/2+ state shows that the established USD shell model breaks down well within the sd model space and requires a revised treatment of the proton-neutron monopole interaction.
Related Concept Videos
Nuclear Binding Energy
Nuclear Stability
To hold positively charged protons together...
The Energies of Atomic Orbitals
Atomic Nuclei: Nuclear Relaxation Processes
Atomic Nuclei: Nuclear Spin State Population Distribution
Nuclear Fission

