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Mirror-symmetry violation in bound nuclear ground states

Author

Listed:
  • D. E. M. Hoff

    (University of Massachusetts Lowell)

  • A. M. Rogers

    (University of Massachusetts Lowell)

  • S. M. Wang

    (Michigan State University)

  • P. C. Bender

    (University of Massachusetts Lowell)

  • K. Brandenburg

    (Ohio University)

  • K. Childers

    (Michigan State University
    Michigan State University)

  • J. A. Clark

    (Argonne National Laboratory)

  • A. C. Dombos

    (Michigan State University
    Michigan State University
    JINA-CEE, Michigan State University)

  • E. R. Doucet

    (University of Massachusetts Lowell)

  • S. Jin

    (Michigan State University
    JINA-CEE, Michigan State University)

  • R. Lewis

    (Michigan State University
    Michigan State University)

  • S. N. Liddick

    (Michigan State University
    Michigan State University)

  • C. J. Lister

    (University of Massachusetts Lowell)

  • Z. Meisel

    (Ohio University)

  • C. Morse

    (University of Massachusetts Lowell
    Nuclear Science Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory)

  • W. Nazarewicz

    (Michigan State University
    Michigan State University)

  • H. Schatz

    (Michigan State University
    Michigan State University
    JINA-CEE, Michigan State University)

  • K. Schmidt

    (Michigan State University
    JINA-CEE, Michigan State University
    TU Dresden)

  • D. Soltesz

    (Ohio University)

  • S. K. Subedi

    (Ohio University)

  • S. Waniganeththi

    (University of Massachusetts Lowell)

Abstract

Conservation laws are deeply related to any symmetry present in a physical system1,2. Analogously to electrons in atoms exhibiting spin symmetries3, it is possible to consider neutrons and protons in the atomic nucleus as projections of a single fermion with an isobaric spin (isospin) of t = 1/2 (ref. 4). Every nuclear state is thus characterized by a total isobaric spin T and a projection Tz—two quantities that are largely conserved in nuclear reactions and decays5,6. A mirror symmetry emerges from this isobaric-spin formalism: nuclei with exchanged numbers of neutrons and protons, known as mirror nuclei, should have an identical set of states7, including their ground state, labelled by their total angular momentum J and parity π. Here we report evidence of mirror-symmetry violation in bound nuclear ground states within the mirror partners strontium-73 and bromine-73. We find that a J π = 5/2− spin assignment is needed to explain the proton-emission pattern observed from the T = 3/2 isobaric-analogue state in rubidium-73, which is identical to the ground state of strontium-73. Therefore the ground state of strontium-73 must differ from its J π = 1/2− mirror bromine-73. This observation offers insights into charge-symmetry-breaking forces acting in atomic nuclei.

Suggested Citation

  • D. E. M. Hoff & A. M. Rogers & S. M. Wang & P. C. Bender & K. Brandenburg & K. Childers & J. A. Clark & A. C. Dombos & E. R. Doucet & S. Jin & R. Lewis & S. N. Liddick & C. J. Lister & Z. Meisel & C. , 2020. "Mirror-symmetry violation in bound nuclear ground states," Nature, Nature, vol. 580(7801), pages 52-55, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:580:y:2020:i:7801:d:10.1038_s41586-020-2123-1
    DOI: 10.1038/s41586-020-2123-1
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