In a recent article published in the journal Nature, NSD staff scientist Julian Kahlbow and collaborators presented experimental results that reveal surprising new information about the behavior of protons and neutrons inside the nucleus. The study investigates the phenomenon of Short Range Correlations (SRC) – tightly bound nucleon pairs that temporarily form within the nucleus to create high-momentum states. By comparing nuclei with distinct nuclear shell structures, the researchers discovered that SRC pair formation depends far more on the shell structure than the nuclear mass or neutron-proton ratio. This is an unexpected result that reveals a deep connection between the long-range shell structure and short-range interactions.

The study was led by Jefferson Lab and included researchers from the University of Tennessee and Old Dominion University, who conducted the experiment at Jefferson Lab.

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