核壳结构支配着短程核子对
近日，美国欧道明大学L. B. Weinstein团队报道了核壳结构支配着短程核子对。相关论文发表在2026年6月3日出版的《自然》杂志上。
原子核是由核子（质子和中子）通过强核力结合而成的复杂量子系统。在极短距离内，核子会瞬间形成高动量对——即所谓的短程关联对——这塑造了核物质的高动量结构。研究核子如何形成短程关联对，为探索强相互作用的短程行为提供了一个难得的实验窗口。
研究组利用高能电子与40Ca、48Ca和54Fe（这些原子核具有截然不同的壳层结构）的散射来探测短程关联对的形成。出乎意料的是，研究组发现短程关联对的形成在很大程度上取决于质子和中子所占据的特定量子轨道，而非原子核的质量或中子-质子不平衡程度。这种依赖性远远强于理论模型的预测。该结果表明，需要建立新的角动量量子选择规则来支配核子的短程配对，并揭示了长程核壳层结构与短程相互作用之间的深刻联系。
附：英文原文
Title: Nuclear shell structure governs short-range nucleon pairing
Author: Nguyen, D., Yero, C., Szumila-Vance, H., Hauenstein, F., Swan, N., Weinstein, L. B., Kahlbow, J., Miller, G. A., Schmidt, A., Piasetzky, E., Hen, O., Ayerbe Gayoso, C., Cohen, E., Datta, P., Denniston, A., Devkota, B. R., Diefenthaler, M., Fogler, C., Gamage, B. R., Higinbotham, D., Korover, I., Morean, C., Nycz, M., Satnik, M., Seeds, S., Sharp, P., Suresh, M., Tadepalli, A. S., Wagner, R., Wertz, E. W.
Issue&Volume: 2026-06-03
Abstract: Atomic nuclei are intricate quantum systems in which nucleons (protons and neutrons) are held together by the strong nuclear force. At very short distances, nucleons can momentarily form high-momentum pairs—known as short-range-correlated pairs—that shape the high-momentum structure of nuclear matter1,2. Studying how nucleons form short-range-correlated pairs provides a rare experimental window into the short-distance behaviour of the strong interaction3,4. Here we use the scattering of high-energy electrons from 40Ca, 48Ca and 54Fe, chosen for their distinct shell structures, to probe the formation of short-range-correlated pairs. Unexpectedly, we find that short-range-correlated pairing depends far more on the specific quantum orbitals occupied by protons and neutrons than on the nuclear mass or neutron–proton imbalance. This dependence is much stronger than that predicted by theoretical models. Our results point to a need for new angular-momentum quantum selection rules governing short-range nucleon pairing and reveal a deep connection between long-range nuclear shell structure and short-range interactions.
DOI: 10.1038/s41586-026-10616-2
Source: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-026-10616-2
期刊信息
Nature：《自然》，创刊于1869年。隶属于施普林格·自然出版集团，最新IF：69.504
投稿链接：http://www.nature.com/authors/submit_manuscript.html
