Highlights----Institute of Modern Physics

Physicists Discover Molecule-like Structure of Nuclear Ground State

Scientists have recently discovered a molecular-type structure in the ground state of atomic nuclei. Scientists from the Institute of Modern Physics (IMP), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), along with their collaborators, have recently discovered a molecular-type structure in the ground state of ...

| 24 11, 2023

Researchers Propose a New Host Configuration for Lithium Anodes Using Nuclear Track Method

Chinese researchers have lately proposed a new 3D host configuration for lithium anodes using the nuclear track method. The results have been published in Advanced Energy Materials.
　　Chinese researchers have lately proposed a new 3D host configuration for lithium anodes using the nuclear track method. The results have been published in Advanced Energy Materials.
　　The st...

| 23 05, 2023

Precision Mass Measurements of Nuclei Reveal Properties of Neutron Star

Researchers have measured the masses of several key nuclei with high-precision by employing a state-of-the-art storage-ring mass spectrometry technique.
　　Figure. The detector system of nuclear mass spectrometer based on the Cooling Storage Ring (CSR) in Lanzhou. (Image from IMP)
　　Researchers at the Institute of Modern Physics (IMP) of the Ch...

| 04 05, 2023

Researchers Fabricate Mechanical Metamaterials with Ultra-high Energy Absorption Capacity

Chinese researchers lately have successfully fabricated mechanical metamaterials with ultra-high energy absorption capacity using the ion track technology. The results were published in Nature Communications as Editors' Highlights.
　　Fig. 1 The SEM image of a FIB-milled quasi-BCC beam nanolattice. (Image from IMP)
　　Chinese researchers have successfully fabricated mechanical metamaterials with ultra-high energy absorptio...

| 21 04, 2023

Physicists Observe Global Spin Alignment in Heavy-Ion Collisions

Physicists from STAR Collaboration have reported the first observation of the global spin alignment signal in heavy-ion collisions. Published in Nature on January 18, the study provides a potential new avenue for understanding the strong interaction at work at the sub-nucleon level.
　　Physicists from STAR Collaboration have reported the first observation of the global spin alignment signal in heavy-ion collisions. Published in Nature on January 18, the study provides a pote...

| 19 01, 2023

Scientists Discover the Strongest Isospin Mixing in Beta Decays

Scientists have discovered the strongest isospin mixing ever observed in β decay experiments, presenting a direct challenge to our understanding of nuclear force.
　　Fig. 1 β-delayed two-proton decay of phosphorus-26. (Image by JIAN Hao)
　　Scientists from the Institute of Modern Physics (IMP) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) and their collaborat...

| 11 12, 2022

New Measurement of Stellar Neutron Source Reaction Resolves Long-standing Discrepancies

The Jinping Underground Nuclear Astrophysics (JUNA) collaboration has reported a recent direct measurement of the cross section of a crucial stellar neutron source reaction. The study was published in Physical Review Letters on September 23.
　　Figure 1. Artistic representation of the underground measurement of the 13C(α,n)16O stellar neutron source reaction. (Image by IMP)
　　The Jinping Underground Nuclear Astrophysics (JUNA) col...

| 26 09, 2022

New Study Probes X-ray Bursts from Low-mass X-ray Binaries

An international research team has performed a new measurement of an important astrophysical reaction, providing essential experimental data for understanding the light curve of X-ray bursts and the astrophysical environment in low-mass X-ray binaries.
　　An international research team has performed a new measurement of an important astrophysical reaction, 22Mg(α, p)25Al, providing essential experimental data for understanding the light curve ...

| 27 10, 2021

Scientists Report Remarkable Enhancement of α-particle Clustering in Uranium Isotopes

It is always exciting to find new isotopes with extreme neutron/proton numbers in nuclear physics research. Researchers at IMP has observed a new uranium (U) isotope, and has revealed for the first time the abnormal enhancement of α-particle clustering in uranium isotopes.
　　Fig. 1. The illustration of the enhanced α-particle preformation in 214,216U deduced by the strong proton-neutron interaction. (Image by ZHANG Zhiyuan)
　　It is always exciting to find new i...

| 15 04, 2021

Study Sheds Light on Stellar Origin of ⁶⁰Fe

Researchers at IMP and their collaborators have recently made great progress in the studies of the stellar beta-decay rate of ⁵⁹Fe, which constitutes an important step towards understanding the ⁶⁰Fe nucleosynthesis in massive stars. The results were published in Physical Review Letters on April 12.
　　Fig. 1. 60Fe nucleosynthesis in massive stars. (Image by LI Yutian)
　　Researchers from the Institute of Modern Physics (IMP) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and their collaborators have r...

| 19 04, 2021