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Updated: May 12, 2026
10:42
Preparing an Isotopically Pure 229Th Ion Beam for Studies of 229mTh
Published on: May 3, 2019
Current status and future potential of nuclide discoveries
1National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory and Department of Physics and Astronomy, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA. thoennessen@nscl.msu.edu
Summary
Over 3000 atomic nuclei are known, with thousands more predicted. This review covers their discovery, current status, and future exploration in nuclear physics.
Area of Science:
- Nuclear Physics
- Atomic Nuclei
Background:
- The field of nuclear physics studies atomic nuclei.
- Approximately 3000 distinct atomic nuclei have been identified to date.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the historical discovery of atomic nuclei.
- To present the current status of nuclear knowledge.
- To explore future possibilities in the discovery of new nuclei.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of nuclear physics discoveries.
- Analysis of existing data on known nuclei.
- Theoretical predictions for undiscovered nuclei.
Main Results:
- A comprehensive overview of the discovery timeline of atomic nuclei.
- Current understanding of the landscape of known nuclei.
- Estimation of 3000-4000 additional nuclei potentially existing.
Conclusions:
- The study provides a review of atomic nuclei discovery.
- It highlights the current state and future potential in the field.
- Further exploration promises significant advancements in nuclear physics.
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