A new view of nuclear shells

Abstract

The nuclear shell structure that has served as a fundamental framework for understanding the arrangement of nucleons exhibits dramatic changes as the neutron to proton ratio in nuclei increases. This paper describes how reaction spectroscopy of the neutron- and proton-rich nuclei has brought about a new revolution towards a more global view of nuclear shells. The relationship between changes in shell structure and the discovery of exotic forms of nuclei such as nuclear halo and skin is discussed. It is shown that the well-known shell gaps (magic numbers) N = 8 and 20 disappear. The discovery of a new magic number at N = 16 at the limit of nuclear binding is discussed. © 2013 The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences.