Quantum State Unveils Clues to Radioactive Nuclei Enigma

Researchers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory have discovered a long-lived excited state of radioactive sodium-32, which challenges our understanding of nuclear shapes and energy levels. The unexpected finding raises questions about how nuclei evolve and interact, and could have implications for our understanding of nuclear physics and the formation of elements. The discovery was made using data collected from the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams (FRIB) at Michigan State University, and further experiments are planned to determine the shape of the excited state.