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Abrupt structural transition in exotic molybdenum isotopes unveils an isospin-symmetric island of inversion

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  • J. Ha

    (Institute for Basic Science, Center for Exotic Nuclear Studies
    Università Degli Studi di Padova, Dipartimento di Fisica e Astronomia
    Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Sezione di Padova
    KU Leuven, Instituut voor Kern- en Stralingsfysica)

  • F. Recchia

    (Università Degli Studi di Padova, Dipartimento di Fisica e Astronomia
    Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Sezione di Padova)

  • S. M. Lenzi

    (Università Degli Studi di Padova, Dipartimento di Fisica e Astronomia
    Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Sezione di Padova)

  • H. Iwasaki

    (Michigan State University, Facility for Rare Isotope Beams
    Michigan State University, Department of Physics and Astronomy)

  • D. D. Dao

    (CNRS, IPHC UMR7178, Université de Strasbourg)

  • F. Nowacki

    (CNRS, IPHC UMR7178, Université de Strasbourg)

  • A. Revel

    (Michigan State University, Facility for Rare Isotope Beams
    Michigan State University, Department of Physics and Astronomy)

  • P. Aguilera

    (Università Degli Studi di Padova, Dipartimento di Fisica e Astronomia
    Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Sezione di Padova)

  • G. de Angelis

    (Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Laboratori Nazionali di Legnaro)

  • J. Ash

    (Michigan State University, Facility for Rare Isotope Beams
    Michigan State University, Department of Physics and Astronomy)

  • D. Bazin

    (Michigan State University, Facility for Rare Isotope Beams
    Michigan State University, Department of Physics and Astronomy)

  • M. A. Bentley

    (University of York, School of Physics, Engineering and Technology)

  • S. Biswas

    (Michigan State University, Facility for Rare Isotope Beams)

  • S. Carollo

    (Università Degli Studi di Padova, Dipartimento di Fisica e Astronomia
    Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Sezione di Padova)

  • M. L. Cortes

    (Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Laboratori Nazionali di Legnaro)

  • R. Elder

    (Michigan State University, Facility for Rare Isotope Beams
    Michigan State University, Department of Physics and Astronomy)

  • R. Escudeiro

    (Università Degli Studi di Padova, Dipartimento di Fisica e Astronomia
    Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Sezione di Padova
    Universidade de São Paulo, Instituto de Fisica)

  • P. Farris

    (Michigan State University, Facility for Rare Isotope Beams
    Michigan State University, Department of Physics and Astronomy)

  • A. Gade

    (Michigan State University, Facility for Rare Isotope Beams
    Michigan State University, Department of Physics and Astronomy)

  • T. Ginter

    (Michigan State University, Facility for Rare Isotope Beams)

  • M. Grinder

    (Michigan State University, Facility for Rare Isotope Beams
    Michigan State University, Department of Physics and Astronomy)

  • J. Li

    (Michigan State University, Facility for Rare Isotope Beams)

  • D. R. Napoli

    (Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Laboratori Nazionali di Legnaro)

  • S. Noji

    (Michigan State University, Facility for Rare Isotope Beams)

  • J. Pereira

    (Michigan State University, Facility for Rare Isotope Beams)

  • S. Pigliapoco

    (Università Degli Studi di Padova, Dipartimento di Fisica e Astronomia
    Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Sezione di Padova)

  • A. Pompermaier

    (Università Degli Studi di Padova, Dipartimento di Fisica e Astronomia)

  • A. Poves

    (Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Departamento de Física Teórica and IFT UAM-CSIC)

  • K. Rezynkina

    (Università Degli Studi di Padova, Dipartimento di Fisica e Astronomia
    Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Sezione di Padova)

  • A. Sanchez

    (Michigan State University, Facility for Rare Isotope Beams
    Michigan State University, Department of Physics and Astronomy)

  • R. Wadsworth

    (University of York, School of Physics, Engineering and Technology)

  • D. Weisshaar

    (Michigan State University, Facility for Rare Isotope Beams)

Abstract

Like electrons in atoms, protons and neutrons in nuclei occupy orbitals in a shell structure with energy gaps at magic numbers. Radioactive-beam experiments revealed the disappearance of magic numbers in some neutron-rich isotopes. In these nuclei, configurations involving particles excited across the shell gap gain correlation energy, becoming the ground state. Neutron-rich regions of the nuclear chart that exhibit this property are known as “Islands of Inversion”. Here we present the lifetime measurement of the first 2+ states in 84Mo (N = Z) and 86Mo (N = Z + 2) revealing an unexpected sharp structural change between them defining the edge of the region of deformation around 80Zr. Similarly to the neutron-rich N = 40 Island of Inversion near 64Cr where cross-shell excitations dominate, we identify this region as an Island of Inversion with symmetrical proton and neutron excitations that we term “Isospin-Symmetric Island of Inversion”. Three-nucleon forces are suggested to drive Mo isotope structural changes.

Suggested Citation

  • J. Ha & F. Recchia & S. M. Lenzi & H. Iwasaki & D. D. Dao & F. Nowacki & A. Revel & P. Aguilera & G. de Angelis & J. Ash & D. Bazin & M. A. Bentley & S. Biswas & S. Carollo & M. L. Cortes & R. Elder &, 2025. "Abrupt structural transition in exotic molybdenum isotopes unveils an isospin-symmetric island of inversion," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 16(1), pages 1-8, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:16:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-025-65621-2
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-65621-2
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