The world’s most powerful supercomputer, Frontier, has helped nuclear physicists at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) resolve a decade-long debate in the field of nuclear physics. The research focused on deciphering the magnetic properties of calcium-48, an atom with a uniquely stable structure.
Calcium-48 is often used in scientific research due to its exceptional stability, making it ideal for studying forces that bind or separate atomic particles. Initially, experiments suggested a magnetic transition strength of 4 nuclear magnetons squared, while later gamma-ray experiments reported nearly twice as strong. The discrepancy created confusion among scientists about the true magnetic behavior of calcium-48.
To address this conundrum, the ORNL team utilized Frontier’s incredible computing power to simulate magnetic responses inside calcium-48. They employed chiral effective field theory and the coupled-cluster method to calculate properties accurately.
The simulations revealed that the magnetic transition strength of calcium-48 matched the results from gamma-ray experiments, settling the long-standing debate. This breakthrough has implications for astrophysics, as calcium-48 is found abundantly within the cores of collapsing supernovae, where neutrinos play a crucial role.
This research not only clarifies the magnetic behavior of calcium-48 but also provides insights into continuum effects and the intricate dance of nucleon pairs within the nucleus. The findings have the potential to enhance our understanding of magnetism within nuclei and shed light on the rules that govern how nuclei are made, ultimately revealing new possibilities for nuclear physics and astrophysics research.
Source: https://interestingengineering.com/science/frontier-decodes-decade-long-calcium-48-magnetic-mystery