New charge radius relations for atomic nuclei

TL;DR

This paper presents simple, highly accurate relations for predicting nuclear charge radii based on neighboring nuclei, which can aid in consistency checks and reveal nuclear shape transitions.

Contribution

The authors introduce novel charge radius relations that achieve high precision and are applicable across different atomic numbers, enhancing predictive capabilities in nuclear physics.

Findings

Root-mean-square deviation of 0.0078 fm between predictions and experimental data.

Relations are valid regardless of atomic number and charge.

Deviations highlight nuclear shape transitions or coexistence.

Abstract

We show that the charge radii of neighboring atomic nuclei, independent of atomic number and charge, follow remarkably very simple relations, despite the fact that atomic nuclei are complex finite many-body systems governed by the laws of quantum mechanics. These relations can be understood within the picture of independent-particle motion and by assuming neighboring nuclei having similar pattern in the charge density distribution. A root-mean-square (rms) deviation of 0.0078 fm is obtained between the predictions in these relations and the experimental values, i.e., a comparable precision as modern experimental techniques. Such high accuracy relations are very useful to check the consistence of nuclear charge radius surface and moreover to predict unknown nuclear charge radii, while large deviations from experimental data is seen to reveal the appearance of nuclear shape transition or coexsitence.