Surrey helps to produce the world's first neutron-rich, radioactive tantalum ions

An international team of scientists have unveiled the world's first production of a purified beam of neutron-rich, radioactive tantalum ions. This development could now allow for lab-based experiments on exploding stars helping scientists to answer long-held questions such as "where does gold come from?"

In a paper published in Physical Review Letters, the University of Surrey together with its partners detail how they used a new isotope-separation facility, called KISS, which is developed and operated by the Wako Nuclear Science Centre (WNSC) in the High Energy Accelerator Research Organization (KEK), Japan, to make beams of heavy tantalum isotopes.

The chemical element of tantalum is extremely difficult to vaporise, so the team had to capture radioactive tantalum atoms in high-pressure argon gas, ionising the atoms with precisely tuned lasers. A single isotope of radioactive tantalum could then be selected for detailed investigation.

In the study, the team found that when produced in a metastable state, tantalum-187's nucleus fleetingly rotated in an irregular manner. The team discovered that tantalum-187's gamma-ray "fingerprint" was characteristic of a prolate (American football) shape but simultaneously with a hint of an oblate (pancake) shape.

The team believe their results hint at the possibility of tantalum's more dramatic shape-change to a full oblate rotation which they aim to explore in detail in future experiments.

Philip Walker, Emeritus Professor of Physics at the University of Surrey, said: "Theory suggests that just two more neutrons could tip the shape of tantalum-187 from prolate to oblate, so tantalum-189 is an objective for future investigation. However, it now seems to be a real possibility to go further and reach uncharted tantalum-199, with 126 neutrons, to test the exploding-star mechanism."

Yoshikazu Hirayama, Associate Professor of WNSC in KEK, said: "Our KISS is a unique facility which can provide unexplored heavy nuclei, such as tantalum-187, 189, and 199, for the studies of exotic nuclear structures. We have started to delve into the mechanism of the synthesis of elements in the universe through the nuclear studies at KISS."

Research paper

Related Links
University Of Surrey
Space Technology News - Applications and Research

Tweet

Thanks for being there;
We need your help. The SpaceDaily news network continues to grow but revenues have never been harder to maintain.

With the rise of Ad Blockers, and Facebook - our traditional revenue sources via quality network advertising continues to decline. And unlike so many other news sites, we don't have a paywall - with those annoying usernames and passwords.

Our news coverage takes time and effort to publish 365 days a year.

If you find our news sites informative and useful then please consider becoming a regular supporter or for now make a one off contribution.

SpaceDaily Monthly Supporter
$5+ Billed Monthly

paypal only

SpaceDaily Contributor
$5 Billed Once

credit card or paypal

Chain reaction: virus darkens future of Albania's chromium miners
Bulqizďż˝, Albania (AFP) Nov 11, 2020
With mountains of chromite piling sky high on the docks of the port behind him in the Albanian city of Durres, logistics manager Henri Kurti explains the hold up. "When China and America have problems, we have even bigger problems in Bulqize," he says, referring to the region to the east where the blue-grey metal is mined before being shipped around the world. As the coronavirus pandemic rocks international commerce, knock-on effects are being felt in poor corners of the world like Albania, wher ... read more