Ordering of the $0d_{5/2}$ and $1s_{1/2}$ proton levels in light nuclei

TL;DR

This paper investigates how the ordering of specific proton orbitals in light nuclei is influenced mainly by the energy proximity of the s-state to the Coulomb barrier, supported by data analysis and Woods-Saxon calculations.

Contribution

It demonstrates that the orbital ordering depends primarily on the proximity of the s-state proton energy to the Coulomb barrier, extending understanding of nuclear structure.

Findings

Proton orbital ordering is influenced by proximity to the Coulomb barrier.

The study uses both experimental data and Woods-Saxon potential calculations.

The results are analogous to neutron orbital behavior near the neutron threshold.

Abstract

A survey of the available single-proton data in $A\leq17$ nuclei, along with calculations using a Woods-Saxon potential, show that the ordering of the $0d_{5/2}$ and $1s_{1/2}$ proton orbitals are determined primarily by the proximity of the $s$-state proton energy to the Coulomb barrier. This is analogous to the dependence of the corresponding neutron orbitals in proximity to the neutron threshold, that was previously discussed.