NSCL News

From Physical Review Letters: New neutron-rich nuclei support 'island of inversion' theory

Mapping the properties of nuclei at the edge of the nuclear landscape is one of the fundamental pursuits in experimental nuclear science. Even the simple proof of existence of an isotope, which lives only for a fraction of a second, is sufficient to guide theorists in the development a comprehensive model of nuclear matter. Researchers at NSCL have succeeded in producing and measuring the production rates of 15 new neutron-rich isotopes never before produced in a laboratory setting. Several of these new, rare isotopes were produced at significantly higher-than-expected rates.

From the Lansing State Journal: Public gets chance to view cyclotron lab at MSU

"The public got a chance to explore the world of atoms, isotopes and nuclei Saturday afternoon during the National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory open house at Michigan State University," reported LSJ's Brittany Smith in a June 14 article.

Videos available from June 12 Rare Isotope Beams for the 21st Century event

Approximately 400 people attended the June 12 Rare Isotope Beams for the 21st Century event, which helped to celebrate a major expansion of NSCL and look ahead to the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams. (The MSU press release about the event is available here.)

Nuclear masses measured to within a hair’s precision

No one likes to say exactly how much they weigh. Rare atomic nuclei are similarly coy, obviously not because of their own volition, but rather because they are exceedingly difficult to produce and, while they exist, very short-lived and difficult to corral and accurately measure. Now, MSU researchers have made precise mass measurements of four such nuclei, 68-selenium, 70-selenium, 71-bromine and an excited state of 70-bromine (yes, a nucleus weighs measurably more when it is excited because of Einstein’s energy-mass relation, E=mc²).

More News