Breaking Boundaries: First Production of Neutron-Rich Hydrogen Isotope 6H Challenges Current Understanding
Key Ideas
  • The A1 Collaboration at JGU Mainz, along with scientists from China and Japan, successfully produced the highly neutron-rich hydrogen-6 isotope in an electron scattering experiment, challenging current theories on multi-nucleon interactions.
  • New method involved using an 855 MeV electron beam on a 7Li target to create 6H through a two-step process, revealing unexpected neutron interactions within the nucleus.
  • Experiment's success relied on high-resolution spectrometers at the Mainz Microtron (MAMI), allowing for precise measurements indicating a stronger neutron-neutron interaction in 6H than previously thought.
  • Funding for the groundbreaking research was provided by the German Research Foundation, China's National Key Research and Development Program, the European Union's Horizon 2020 program, and other scientific institutions.
The A1 Collaboration at the Institute of Nuclear Physics at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (JGU) achieved a significant milestone by producing the extremely neutron-rich hydrogen isotope 6H for the first time in an electron scattering experiment. This groundbreaking achievement challenges the current understanding of multi-nucleon interactions in light, neutron-rich nuclei. The experiment, conducted at the Mainz Microtron (MAMI) particle accelerator, involved a collaboration between researchers from Germany, China, and Japan. By using a unique method involving an 855 MeV electron beam on a 7Li target, the scientists were able to observe the creation of 6H through a complex two-step process, shedding light on the neutron-to-proton ratios in extremely neutron-rich systems. The experiment's success was attributed to the high-resolution spectrometers and the exceptional quality of the electron beam at MAMI. The research, led by doctoral student Tianhao Shao, provided new insights into the nuclear structure of 6H, indicating a stronger neutron interaction than previously predicted. The project was funded by prestigious institutions such as the German Research Foundation, China's National Key Research and Development Program, the European Union's Horizon 2020 program, as well as other national scientific foundations. This achievement opens up new avenues for studying nuclear physics and challenges the existing theories on neutron-rich isotopes.
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