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A Borromean nucleus is an atomic nucleus comprising three bound components in which any subsystem of two components is unbound. [1] This has the consequence that if one component is removed, the remaining two comprise an unbound resonance, so that the original nucleus is split into three parts. [2]
The name is derived from the Borromean rings, a system of three linked rings in which no pair of rings is linked. [2]
Examples of Borromean nuclei
Many Borromean nuclei are light nuclei near the
nuclear drip lines that have a
nuclear halo and low
nuclear binding energy. For example, the nuclei
6
He
,
11
Li
, and 22
C
each possess a two-
neutron halo surrounding a core containing the remaining nucleons.
[2]
[3] These are Borromean nuclei because the removal of either neutron from the halo will result in a resonance unbound to one-
neutron emission, whereas the
dineutron (the particles in the halo) is itself an unbound system.
[1] Similarly, 17
Ne
is a Borromean nucleus with a two-proton halo; both the
diproton and 16
F
are unbound.
[4]
Additionally,
9
Be
is a Borromean nucleus comprising two
alpha particles and a neutron;
[3] the removal of any one component would produce one of the unbound resonances
5
He
or
8
Be
.
Several Borromean nuclei such as
9
Be
and the
Hoyle state (an
excited resonance in
12
C
) play an important role in
nuclear astrophysics. Namely, these are three-body systems whose unbound components (formed from
4
He
) are intermediate steps in the
triple-alpha process; this limits the rate of production of heavier elements, for three bodies must react nearly simultaneously.
[3]
Borromean nuclei consisting of more than three components can also exist. These also lie along the drip lines; for instance,
8
He
is a five-body Borromean system with a four-neutron halo.
[5] It is also possible that
nuclides produced in the
alpha process (such as 12
C
and
16
O
) may be clusters of alpha particles, having a similar structure to Borromean nuclei.
[2]
As of 2012
[update], the heaviest known Borromean nucleus was 29
F
.
[6] Heavier species along the neutron drip line have since been observed; these and undiscovered heavier nuclei along the drip line are also likely to be Borromean nuclei with varying numbers (3, 5, 7, or more) of bodies.
[5]
See also
References
- ^ a b Id Betan, R. M. (2017). "Cooper pairs in the Borromean nuclei 6He and 11Li using continuum single particle level density". Nuclear Physics A. 959: 147–148. arXiv: 1701.08099. Bibcode: 2017NuPhA.959..147I. doi: 10.1016/j.nuclphysa.2017.01.004. S2CID 119243017.
- ^ a b c d Manton, N.; Mee, N. (2017). "Nuclear Physics". The Physical World: An Inspirational Tour of Fundamental Physics. Oxford University Press. pp. 387–389. doi: 10.1093/oso/9780198795933.003.0012. ISBN 978-0-19-879611-4. LCCN 2017934959.
- ^ a b c Vaagen, J. S.; Gridnev, D. K.; Heiberg-Andersen, H.; et al. (2000). "Borromean Halo Nuclei" (PDF). Physica Scripta. T88 (1): 209–213. Bibcode: 2000PhST...88..209V. doi: 10.1238/Physica.Topical.088a00209. S2CID 121095106.
- ^ Oishi, T.; Hagino, K.; Sagawa, H. (2010). "Diproton correlation in the proton-rich Borromean nucleus 17Ne". Physical Review C. 82 (6): 066901–1–066901–6. arXiv: 1007.0835. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevC.82.069901.
- ^ a b Riisager, K. (2013). "Halos and related structures". Physica Scripta. 2013 (14001): 014001. arXiv: 1208.6415. Bibcode: 2013PhST..152a4001R. doi: 10.1088/0031-8949/2013/T152/014001. S2CID 119290542.
- ^ Gaudefroy, L.; Mittig, W.; Orr, N. A.; et al. (2012). "Direct Mass Measurements of 19B, 22C, 29F, 31Ne, 34Na and Other Light Exotic Nuclei". Physical Review Letters. 109 (20): 202503–1–202503–5. arXiv: 1211.3235. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.109.202503. PMID 23215476. S2CID 21166319.