Department of Physics, Graduate School of Science
I am researching the search for the α-condensed state in 24Mg.
The matter that constitutes our universe is composed of molecules, which in turn are made up of atoms. The characteristics of an atom are determined by its nucleus, which consists of protons and neutrons. By experimentally investigating the properties of atomic nuclei, I aim to clarify the origins of our universe.
In general, the density of an atomic nucleus is considered to be constant regardless of its type (a property known as density saturation), and the independent particle model, which assumes that protons and neutrons move independently, is effective in describing nuclear properties. However, there exist nuclear states that cannot be easily explained by the independent particle model. One such example is the α-cluster state. The α-cluster state is a nuclear structure in which the nucleus is composed of α-particles, each consisting of two protons and two neutrons.
Among the α-cluster models, I am particularly interested in the α-condensed state. In this state, all α-particles condense into the lowest-energy orbital, leading to a nuclear density that is about one-sixth that of a normal nucleus. The α-condensed state is highly intriguing because it deviates significantly from the concept of density saturation.
Currently, 24Mg has not been extensively studied in this context. Therefore, I aim to conduct a more detailed investigation into the 6α-condensed state in 24Mg and explore its properties.