80 years later, scientists figured out how atomic nuclei begin to rotate after fission

Previous studies have shown that atomic nuclei with large numbers of protons and neutrons are unstable.

Таким образом, они склонны к расщеплению, known as nuclear fission. Previous results suggested that after splitting, fragments of atomic nuclei begin to spin as they are ejected from the center. Why they start spinning has remained a mystery since nuclear fission was discovered more than 80 years ago.

Trying to understand why the fragments beginspin, physicists learned more about the fission process. They found, for example, that just before splitting, the nucleus lengthens and forms a neck - the neck lengthens further, and then eventually splitting occurs.

After the cleavage was discovered,physicists began to theorize why a neck forms and leads to nuclear fission. In addition, they began to wonder if the rotation of the fragments began before or after the rupture. As part of this new attempt, the researchers conducted experiments showing that rotation begins after rupture.

The work included studying the fragments formedresulting from the fission of several types of unstable elements such as uranium-238 and thorium-232. As part of their research, they took a closer look at the gamma rays released after fission.

Scientists have noticed that these rays convey information.about the rotation of the studied fragments. In addition, they expected that if the rotation resulting from the fission occurred before rupture, then all the fragments in a given region would almost certainly have the same spin, but opposite to each other. But they found that it was not. Instead, all of their rotations were completely independent of each other. This discovery strongly suggests that rotation begins after rupture.

The researchers also suggest that asAs the nucleus elongates and splits, the resulting debris can resemble a tear. They assume that such fragments will then move, shrinking their surface shape (like bubbles), while releasing energy that causes them to start spinning.

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