Scientists discover unknown uranium isotopes
2023-04-07
Japanese and Korean scientists have discovered a previously unknown uranium isotope, U-241, with a atomic number of 92, a mass of 241, and a half-life of only 40 minutes. This is the first time since 1979 that scientists have discovered a neutron rich uranium isotope. The research team pointed out that its research method can be used to further understand the isotopes of other heavy elements and has the potential to discover new isotopes. The relevant research is published in the latest issue of the journal Physical Review Letters. In the past few decades, physicists have found it difficult to determine the properties of isotopes rich in neutrons due to the difficulty in synthesizing them. Given this, they have been exploring new methods for synthesizing neutron rich isotopes under laboratory conditions. In the latest research, scientists from the High Energy Accelerator Research Organization (KEK) of Japan filled this knowledge gap, and they determined the mass of 19 such isotopes, including the brand new uranium-241. The team conducted the latest experiments on the KEK isotope separation system facility. They accelerated a beam of uranium-238 nuclei into a rotating target of platinum 198 nuclei, which caused multiple protons and neutrons to transfer between the uranium beam nucleus and the platinum target nucleus, forming multiple isotopes. They then determined the mass of these isotopes using a time of flight mass spectrometer. Researchers have accurately determined the mass of 19 heavy element isotopes rich in neutrons, which range from 143 to 150 neutrons, of which uranium-241 has never been observed before. Researchers say that the technology used in the latest research can help them better understand the shape of atomic nuclei related to heavy elements, with the potential to modify existing models for building nuclear power plants and weapons, as well as theories for describing stellar explosion behavior. The latest methods also help discover more new isotopes. (Outlook New Era Network)
Edit:qihang Responsible editor:xinglan
Source:people.cn
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