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Large Hadron Collider Reveals an Atomic Nucleus Shaped Like a Bowling Pin
Yahoo • • science
Key Points:
- Physicists at CERN's Large Hadron Collider have found evidence that the atomic nucleus of neon-20 has a bowling pin-like shape, contrasting with the typical spherical model of atomic nuclei.
- By comparing collisions of oxygen-16 and neon-20 nuclei, researchers observed differences in particle flow patterns that reflect the distinct intrinsic nuclear geometries, with oxygen-16 predicted to have a tetrahedral shape.
- The study shows that collective flow in nuclear collisions is sensitive to the spatial arrangement of protons and neutrons, providing a novel method to probe nuclear structure through particle collider experiments.
- Although some flow pattern measurements did not perfectly match theoretical predictions, the results confirm nuclear deformation and offer new constraints for models of small-system collectivity.
- These findings, published in Physical Review Letters, have significant implications for nuclear physics and our understanding of matter behavior under extreme collision conditions.
