Nuclear Isomers: A Primer

Nuclear isomers are long-lived excited states of nuclei, with the first one identified in 1921. They have gained interest due to their potential as energy storage devices and nuclear clocks, and the possibility of discovering a gamma ray laser. Isomers are classified into four classes: Spin isomers, shape isomers, fission isomers, and K-isomers, with seniority isomers often clubbed with the spin isomers. The range of half-lives covered by the isomers varies from billions of years to nano-seconds, and the angular momentum couplings, nuclear shapes, pairing, etc. conspire together to give this vast range of half-lives. The nuclear shapes play an important role in many types of isomers, with spin isomers confined to the magic numbers and seniority isomers largely found in semi-magic nuclei. Isomers in deformed nuclei change their decay properties, and new developments in seniority and generalized seniority isomers are discussed. Open questions are posed for possible new experiments and better understanding of the isomers.

Format: Hardback
Length: 144 pages
Publication date: 11 July 2021
Publisher: Springer Nature Switzerland AG

Nuclear isomers are long-lived excited states of nuclei that constitute the meta-stable landscape of nuclei. They have gained increasing interest in recent years due to their experimental capabilities, potential energy storage devices, nuclear clocks, and gamma ray laser discovery. Isomers cover the full nuclear landscape with structural peculiarities specific to each region of the nuclear chart, providing a novel insight into the nuclear structure properties of that region. They are classified into four classes: Spin isomers, shape isomers, fission isomers, and K-isomers, with seniority isomers often clubbed with the spin isomers. The range of half-lives covered by the isomers varies from billions of years to nano-seconds and even small, making it a fascinating endeavor to understand this vast variation. Angular momentum couplings, nuclear shapes, pairing, and other factors contribute to this range of half-lives.

Weight: 412g
Dimension: 235 x 155 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9783030786748
Edition number: 1st ed. 2021