Chinese scientists synthesized a new nuclide, protactinium-210, for the first time

Today, the reporter learned from the Institute of Modern Physics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences that recently, the research team of Gan Zaiguo and his collaborators used the accelerator device of the Lanzhou Heavy Ion Accelerator National Laboratory to synthesize a new nuclide for the first time: protactinium-210, which is the most neutron-deficient protactinium isotope known so far. The relevant research results were published in the international academic journal Nature Communications on May 29, Beijing time.

The atomic nucleus is a quantum many-body system composed of protons and neutrons. Different numbers of protons and neutrons constitute different nuclides. There are about 288 stable nuclides in nature, which are distributed near the narrow stable lines in the nuclide diagram.

The synthesis and research of new nuclides is a hot topic in the field of nuclear physics research, which is of great significance for exploring the existence limit of atomic nuclei, revealing new physical phenomena, and deepening the understanding of the structure of matter. The research team used the China Superheavy Element Research Accelerator Facility to successfully synthesize the new nuclide protactinium-210 on a new generation of gas-filled recoil nuclear spectrometer through fusion evaporation reaction, and measured the alpha decay energy and half-life of the nuclide. This research result has accumulated experience for my country's research on the synthesis of new elements.