Manipal: Four new atomic nuclei which will be added to the Chart of Nuclides, have been discovered by Researchers from the Manipal Centre of Natural Sciences (MCNS) at Manipal University, in collaboration with GSI-Giessen, Germany.
The study focuses on developing new methods of synthesis for super heavy elements. The newly discovered, exotic nuclei are one isotope each of the heavy elements berkelium and neptunium and two isotopes of the element americium.
According to a press statement from Manipal University, H.M. Devaraja, a PhD student at MCNS participated in experimental work along with an international team of researchers at GSI Helmholtzzentrum für Schwerionenforschung. Other participants include scientists from the Justus Liebig University Giessen, Germany, the Japan Atomic Energy Agency, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in the USA, and the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research in Russia. The results were published in Physics Letters B.
“It was my dream to discover something vital during my PhD research,” a joyful Devaraja said and thanked Manipal Centre for Natural Sciences, Manipal University for making his dream come true. “I am delighted that Manipal University has been an integral part of this groundbreaking work which was specifically taken up as part of our ongoing collaboration,” Manipal University Vice Chancellor Dr H. Vinod Bhat said.
Prof Gottfried Münzenberg who initiated the Giessen-GSI-Manipal collaboration with Dr Mohini Gupta felt that the synthesis of new isotopes in nuclear transfer reactions was a milestone in the search for new methods for SHE synthesis. The newly discovered isotopes have fewer neutrons and are lighter than the previously known isotopes of the respective elements.
Till date, the known Periodic Table comprises over 3,000 isotopes of 114 chemical elements. According to scientific estimates, more than 4,000 additional, undiscovered isotopes should exist. “By using this method, we have succeeded in generating many different atomic nuclei at once,” says Dr Sophia Heinz who headed the experiment at GSI.
“Our results are important for the study of super-heavy elements. New isotopes, in particular those of super-heavy elements, which contain an especially large number of neutrons, cannot be made by any other method. Experiments aimed at creating these neutron-rich nuclei are already being prepared.”
