Unveiling the Surprising Breakup of a Watermelon-Shaped Atom: A Fascinating Discovery!

Researchers have made an exciting discovery about astatine, specifically a new type of atomic nucleus that emits individual protons. This nucleus is unique because it has 85 protons and 103 neutrons, making it the heaviest known nucleus that breaks down this way. It’s also the lightest isotope of astatine.

Astatine is a special element; it’s incredibly rare on Earth. In fact, all its isotopes are radioactive and exist only for brief periods, from hours to mere nanoseconds. Scientists estimate that less than 1 gram of astatine is present in the Earth’s crust at any moment. This makes it the rarest naturally occurring element on our planet.

In typical nuclear decay, particles like neutrons or groups of protons (known as alpha particles) are emitted. However, this new research highlights a rare process, known as proton emission. “Proton emission is a rare form of radioactive decay, in which the nucleus emits a proton to take a step toward stability,” explains Henna Kokkonen, a nuclear physicist involved in the study.

Studying such exotic nuclei is challenging due to their instability. The researchers created this nucleus in the Accelerator Laboratory at the University of Jyväskylä by colliding two nuclei to form an unstable compound. This process is called fusion-evaporation and was carried out using a strontium ion beam on a silver target.

Once generated, the new nucleus was analyzed using sophisticated equipment that separated the remnants of the reaction. The researchers employed a theoretical model called the non-adiabatic quasiparticle model, which helped them understand the structure and behavior of the nucleus. They believe this unique nucleus may have a “watermelon” shape, which is intriguing but not yet fully understood.

Kokkonen notes that the unique properties of this nucleus suggest a shift in the binding energy of its valence proton, hinting at new interactions in heavy nuclei that deserve further exploration.

Understanding astatine and its isotopes can provide insights into the fundamental building blocks of matter and even potential applications in various fields. The research team suggests that more studies are needed on this isotope and other unknown astatine nuclei to uncover more mysteries about nuclear behavior.

For those interested in the cutting-edge of nuclear physics, the full study is available in Nature Communications.

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