Experiments on radioactive ion beams have revealed peculiar, unexpected nuclear physics phenomena in nuclei lying far from the stability line: the large energy gaps between neutron and proton orbits corresponding to closed nucleon shells disappear, new energy gaps appear, nuclei expected to be spherical become deformed, and neutron glories form around the core of the nuclei. As part of the international collaboration SUNFLOWER, ATOMKI researchers investigate the structure and reactions of exotic isotopes at the world's leading radioactive ion beam facility, the RIKEN Nishina Centre. The success of our research is based on a high-performance detector array, DALI2+. We have participated in the upgrade of this detector system in recent years. The next step will be to determine the deformation of the nuclear shapes in neutron-rich nickel and copper isotopes. The Hungarian research team is going to play a key role in carrying out the experiment.

Project budget: 800,000 HUF