The Neutron-Rich Edge of the Nuclear Landscape. Experiment and Theory

TL;DR

This review discusses experimental techniques and theoretical models used to study extremely neutron-rich nuclei, focusing on shell evolution, Islands of Inversion, and the properties of nuclei near the neutron drip line.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive overview of experimental methods and the shell-model theoretical framework applied to neutron-rich nuclei, highlighting new insights into shell evolution and Islands of Inversion.

Findings

Identification of Islands of Inversion at N=20, 28, and 40

Analysis of shell evolution in Calcium and Potassium isotopes

Discussion of shape coexistence and new magic numbers near N=50

Abstract

In this review, we describe the experimental facilities and methods which make it possible to produce and measure the properties of the extreme neutron rich nuclei. We then develop the theoretical framework that will accompany us along the review; the shell-model approach with large scale configuration interaction (mixing) SM-CI, with special emphasis in the competition between the spherical mean field and the nuclear correlations (mainly pairing and quadrupole-quadrupole). The symmetry properties of the latter are treated in detail as they will show to be of great heuristic value. We explore in detail the Islands of Inversion (IoI) at N=20 and N=28. We make a side excursion into the heavier Calcium and Potassium isotopes, to discuss current issues on shell evolution and new magic numbers far from stability. We visit the N=40 Island of Inversion. We discuss the doubly magic nucleus 78Ni, its shape coexistence and the prospect of a new IoI at N=50 below Z=28. We examine the N=70 and N=82 neutron closures approaching the neutron drip line.