Surrey physicists identify a fundamental link between the size of atomic nuclei and black hole thermodynamic principles

The technique, explained in a peer-reviewed paper published in Annalen der Physik, works for both the matter and the charge radii.

In contrast, the microscopic models conventionally used by nuclear physicists are complex and fail to identify which results follow inherently from fundamental principles. The area is topical because experiments over the last few decades to measure nuclear sizes, often using major particle accelerators internationally, have built up an ever more detailed body of data.

The Surrey team used Quantitative Geometrical Thermodynamics (QGT), a deeply mathematical approach based on fundamental variational calculus considerations, which has previously been applied successfully to explain the stability of spiral galaxies and the role of their central supermassive black holes, of DNA and of Buckminsterfullerene (the C60 molecule). By using the same black hole physics of QGT to explore the nuclear regime as well, they have now demonstrated its validity over 35 orders of magnitude of length, a wider range than for any other physical theory.

The research focused on the helium isotopes, but similar treatment is also successful for the wider “Helium series” of atomic nuclei 12C, 16O, 20Ne, 24Mg, 28Si, 32S, 36Ar, 40Ca. The team anticipates that the same approach will lead to valuable insights for other nuclei, both stable and unstable. This is expected to enhance the study and understanding of nuclear structure physics. 

Professor Chris Jeynes, Professorial Research Fellow at the University of Surrey, said:

“In clearing up a fundamental scientific mystery, our findings will lead to critical progress in bringing together quantum mechanics and general relativity. The benefits are immeasurable and relevant in many fields, from knowledge of the universe and understanding of fundamental principles to the development of new drugs and better energy storage.”

Professor Wilton Catford, Research Group Leader of Experimental Nuclear Physics at the University of Surrey, said:

“The findings almost seem too good to be true, but we worked hard to identify the conceptual links and consistency with microscopic quantum mechanics and reached an improved understanding. The foundations of our approach lie in the links between entropy, information and symmetry, which are fundamental and apply at all scales, sub-atomic or cosmic.” 

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M.C.Parker, C.Jeynes, W.N.Catford, Halo Properties in Helium Nuclei from the Perspective of Geometrical Thermodynamics,  Annalen der Physik (2021) 202100278; http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/andp.202100278.