Scientists have found evidence of alpha particles at the surface of neutron-rich heavy nuclei, providing new insights into the structure of neutron stars, as well as the process of alpha decay.

Alpha decay represents a fundamental mode of radioactive disintegration wherein an unstable nucleus emits an alpha particle—a tightly bound cluster of two protons and two neutrons. This process not ...

Alpha spotter the study was done using the Grand Raiden spectrometer at Osaka’s Research Centre for Nuclear Physics. (Courtesy: Thomas Aumann/TU Darmstadt) “Alpha clusters” resembling helium-4 nuclei ...

Two teams of nuclear physicists have carried out the most sensitive measurements yet of how an excited form of carbon-12 known as the Hoyle state breaks down into its three constituent alpha particles ...

Led by Dr. Kosuke Morita at the RIKEN Nishina Center for Accelerator-based Science, a group of scientists specializing in the superheavy elements have established the clearest evidence yet for the ...

In a random moment, all energy is lost. The unstable subject cannot help but decay, slowly but surely, letting go of particles to become stable. It loses itself to become balanced again. This is a ...