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Protons hog the momentum in neutron-rich nuclei


October 16, 2014

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Protons and neutrons that have briefly paired up in the nucleus have higher average momentum, leaving less for non-paired nucleons. Researchers have now shown for the first time that this phenomenon exists in nuclei heavier than carbon, including aluminum, iron and lead, and also surprisingly allows a greater fraction of protons than neutrons to have high momentum in these neutron-rich nuclei.Full Story

Source
DOE/Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility

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