Abrupt structural transition in exotic molybdenum isotopes unveils an isospin-symmetric island of inversion

J. Ha, F. Recchia (), S. M. Lenzi, H. Iwasaki, D. D. Dao, F. Nowacki, A. Revel, P. Aguilera, G. de Angelis, J. Ash, D. Bazin, M. A. Bentley, S. Biswas, S. Carollo, M. L. Cortes, R. Elder, R. Escudeiro, P. Farris, A. Gade, T. Ginter, M. Grinder, J. Li, D. R. Napoli, S. Noji, J. Pereira, S. Pigliapoco, A. Pompermaier, A. Poves, K. Rezynkina, A. Sanchez, R. Wadsworth and D. Weisshaar
Additional contact information
J. Ha: Institute for Basic Science, Center for Exotic Nuclear Studies
F. Recchia: Università Degli Studi di Padova, Dipartimento di Fisica e Astronomia
S. M. Lenzi: Università Degli Studi di Padova, Dipartimento di Fisica e Astronomia
H. Iwasaki: Michigan State University, Facility for Rare Isotope Beams
D. D. Dao: CNRS, IPHC UMR7178, Université de Strasbourg
F. Nowacki: CNRS, IPHC UMR7178, Université de Strasbourg
A. Revel: Michigan State University, Facility for Rare Isotope Beams
P. Aguilera: Università Degli Studi di Padova, Dipartimento di Fisica e Astronomia
G. de Angelis: Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Laboratori Nazionali di Legnaro
J. Ash: Michigan State University, Facility for Rare Isotope Beams
D. Bazin: Michigan State University, Facility for Rare Isotope Beams
M. A. Bentley: University of York, School of Physics, Engineering and Technology
S. Biswas: Michigan State University, Facility for Rare Isotope Beams
S. Carollo: Università Degli Studi di Padova, Dipartimento di Fisica e Astronomia
M. L. Cortes: Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Laboratori Nazionali di Legnaro
R. Elder: Michigan State University, Facility for Rare Isotope Beams
R. Escudeiro: Università Degli Studi di Padova, Dipartimento di Fisica e Astronomia
P. Farris: Michigan State University, Facility for Rare Isotope Beams
A. Gade: Michigan State University, Facility for Rare Isotope Beams
T. Ginter: Michigan State University, Facility for Rare Isotope Beams
M. Grinder: Michigan State University, Facility for Rare Isotope Beams
J. Li: Michigan State University, Facility for Rare Isotope Beams
D. R. Napoli: Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Laboratori Nazionali di Legnaro
S. Noji: Michigan State University, Facility for Rare Isotope Beams
J. Pereira: Michigan State University, Facility for Rare Isotope Beams
S. Pigliapoco: Università Degli Studi di Padova, Dipartimento di Fisica e Astronomia
A. Pompermaier: Università Degli Studi di Padova, Dipartimento di Fisica e Astronomia
A. Poves: Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Departamento de Física Teórica and IFT UAM-CSIC
K. Rezynkina: Università Degli Studi di Padova, Dipartimento di Fisica e Astronomia
A. Sanchez: Michigan State University, Facility for Rare Isotope Beams
R. Wadsworth: University of York, School of Physics, Engineering and Technology
D. Weisshaar: Michigan State University, Facility for Rare Isotope Beams

Nature Communications, 2025, vol. 16, issue 1, 1-8

Abstract: Abstract Like electrons in atoms, protons and neutrons in nuclei occupy orbitals in a shell structure with energy gaps at magic numbers. Radioactive-beam experiments revealed the disappearance of magic numbers in some neutron-rich isotopes. In these nuclei, configurations involving particles excited across the shell gap gain correlation energy, becoming the ground state. Neutron-rich regions of the nuclear chart that exhibit this property are known as “Islands of Inversion”. Here we present the lifetime measurement of the first 2+ states in 84Mo (N = Z) and 86Mo (N = Z + 2) revealing an unexpected sharp structural change between them defining the edge of the region of deformation around 80Zr. Similarly to the neutron-rich N = 40 Island of Inversion near 64Cr where cross-shell excitations dominate, we identify this region as an Island of Inversion with symmetrical proton and neutron excitations that we term “Isospin-Symmetric Island of Inversion”. Three-nucleon forces are suggested to drive Mo isotope structural changes.

Date: 2025
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-65621-2

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