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 ...

Nuclei in their lowest energy states (ground state) are composed of neutrons and protons. Two protons and two neutrons in a nucleus can cluster together to form alpha particles. When the nucleus gets ...

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 ...

Alpha particles are a powerful cancer-killing tool, directly damaging tumour cell DNA regardless of the level of oxygenation or cell cycle stage. The downside of alpha particles is their extremely ...

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 ...