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Photoelectron Imaging of Anions Illustrated by 310 Nm Detachment of F−

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Nuclear charge radius of 12Be.

A Krieger¹, K Blaum, M L Bissell

¹Institut für Kernchemie, Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz, D-55128 Mainz, Germany.

Physical Review Letters

|May 1, 2012

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Researchers precisely measured the nuclear charge radius of Beryllium-12 using laser spectroscopy. The findings suggest a breakdown of the N=8 shell closure, impacting nuclear structure understanding.

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Area of Science:

Nuclear Physics
Atomic Physics

Background:

The nuclear charge radius is a fundamental property that probes the distribution of nucleons within an atomic nucleus.
Understanding isotopic trends in nuclear charge radii provides insights into nuclear structure and shell effects.

Purpose of the Study:

To precisely determine the nuclear charge radius of the Beryllium-12 isotope.
To investigate the impact of nuclear structure on the charge radius, particularly concerning the N=8 shell closure.

Main Methods:

Collinear laser spectroscopy was employed on the 2s(1/2)→2p(1/2,3/2) transition in the Beryllium(+) ion.
Precise measurements of the mean square charge radius were obtained for Beryllium isotopes.

Main Results:

The mean square charge radius of Beryllium-12 was determined to increase significantly compared to lighter isotopes.
The observed increase in charge radius from Beryllium-10 to Beryllium-12 is 0.69(5) fm(2), larger than for Beryllium-11 (0.49(5) fm(2)).
Fermionic molecular dynamics calculations highlighted the sensitivity of the charge radius to nuclear structure.

Conclusions:

The experimental charge radius of Beryllium-12 is consistent with a breakdown of the N=8 shell closure.
This finding challenges traditional nuclear shell models and suggests novel nuclear configurations in neutron-rich Beryllium isotopes.