Fragmentation of Heavy Elements Unveils Unprecedented Particle Ratios in Landmark Experiment

Unprecedented particle ratios in atomic nuclei emerged from a groundbreaking experiment fragmenting heavy elements. An international team working at Michigan State University's Facility for Rare Isotope Beams (FRIB), created five new isotopes-thulium-182, thulium-183, ytterbium-186, ytterbium-187, and lutetium-190, bridging celestial elements to Earth.

The isotopes are documented in the paper, titled "Observation of New Isotopes in the Fragmentation of Pt198 at FRIB," published in the journal Physical Review Letters.

New Isotopes Formed From Platinum Fragmentation

Physicists, led by Oleg Tarasov at Michigan State University, have uncovered novel isotopes of rare-Earth elements-thulium, ytterbium, and lutetium-through the disintegration of platinum nuclei. This breakthrough aids scientists in comprehending neutron-rich nuclei properties and the processes underlying the creation of new elements during neutron star collisions.

Atomic nuclei comprise protons and neutrons, where the consistent number of protons defines an element's atomic number. Variations in neutrons result in isotopes, contributing to diverse stability levels. Understanding isotopes aids scientists in deciphering the universal mechanisms of element creation and estimating their abundance across space and time.

To generate the new isotopes, Tarasov's team utilized the isotope 198Pt of platinum, with 120 neutrons (standard platinum has 117). They introduced these atoms into FRIB, a facility utilizing a heavy-ion accelerator for nucleus fragmentation.

Rare isotope beams propelled at velocities surpassing half the speed of light, collide with a target, causing the isotopes to break into lighter nuclei. This process facilitates the detection and study of the resulting isotopes.

The fragmentation of 198Pt yielded new isotopes: 182Tm and 183Tm (with 113 and 114 neutrons, respectively), altering thulium's standard 69 neutrons. Additionally, 186Yb and 187Yb (with 116 and 117 neutrons, respectively) were discovered, deviating from ytterbium's standard 103 neutrons. Lastly, 190Lu, with 119 neutrons, was identified, differing from lutetium's standard 104 neutrons.

FRIB Advances Nuclear Exploration and Astrophysical Insights

The recently produced isotopes at the FRIB mark a significant step toward the creation of nuclear specimens typically only found in the collisions of ultradense celestial bodies like neutron stars.

Researchers, armed with the knowledge of producing these new isotopes, anticipate conducting experiments on a larger scale, enabling investigations that were previously inconceivable. The analogy of embarking on a journey is drawn, signifying the commencement of exploration into uncharted territories.

Alexandra Gade, FRIB's scientific director, anticipates the scientific community's keen interest in measuring the properties of these isotopes, such as their half-lives and masses, contributing to a refined understanding of fundamental nuclear science.

Each isotope, observed in multiple runs of the accelerator, demonstrates FRIB's potential for studying the synthesis of neutron-rich isotopes of heavy elements, addressing scientific realms that were historically neglected.

This exploration is pivotal for comprehending the formation of the heaviest elements in the Universe, which require extreme conditions like those found in supernovae and collisions between neutron stars.

The team's experiment nears replicating the rapid neutron-capture process (r-process) observed in neutron star collisions, unraveling nucleosynthesis pathways for heavy metals like gold. FRIB's superior capabilities make it an ideal facility for exploring the region around neutron number N = 126 and beyond.

Researchers at FRIB can leverage these reactions to create, identify, and study new isotopes, advancing nuclear physics, astrophysics, and our comprehension of fundamental matter properties.

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