The 76Cu conundrum remains unsolved

B. Olaizola; A. Illana; J. Benito; D.P. Suárez-Bustamante; G. Del Piccolo; A. Algora; B. Andel; A.N. Andreyev; M. Araszkiewicz; Y. Ayyad; R.A. Bark; T. Berry; M.J.G. Borge; K. Chrysalidis; T.E. Cocolios; C. Costache; J.G. Cubiss; P. Van Duppen; Z. Favier; L.M. Fraile; H.O.U. Fynbo; F. Galtarossa; G. Georgiev; P.T. Greenless; R. Grzywacz; L.J. Harkness-Brennan; R. Heinke; M. Huyse; P. Ibañez; K. Johnston; P.M. Jones; D.S. Judson; J. Konki; A. Korgul; U. Köster; J. Kurcewicz; M. Labiche; I. Lazarus; R. Lică; M. Llanos-Expósito; M. Madurga; N. Marginean; R. Marginean; B.A. Marsh; C. Mihai; R.E. Mihai; J.R. Murias; E. Nácher; C. Neacsu; A. Negret; V.M. Nouvilas; J. Ojala; J.N. Orce; C.A.A. Page; R.D. Page; J. Pakarinen; J. Papadakis; S. Pascu; A. Perea; M. Piersa-Siłkowska; A.M. Plaza; Zs. Podolyák; W. Poklepa; V. Pucknell; P. Rahkila; C. Raison; E. Rapisarda; K. Rezynkina; F. Rotaru; K. Schomacker; M. Siciliano; C. Sotty; M. Stryjczyk; O. Tengblad; J.M. Udías; V. Vedia; S. Viñals; R. Wadsworth; N. Warr; H. De Witte; D. Yates; Z. Yue

doi:10.1016/j.physletb.2025.139551

The⁷⁶Cu conundrum remains unsolved

B. Olaizola, A. Illana, J. Benito, D.P. Suárez-Bustamante, G. Del Piccolo, A. Algora, B. Andel, A.N. Andreyev, M. Araszkiewicz, Y. Ayyad, R.A. Bark, T. Berry, M.J.G. Borge, K. Chrysalidis, T.E. Cocolios, C. Costache, J.G. Cubiss, P. Van Duppen, Z. Favier, L.M. FraileH.O.U. Fynbo, F. Galtarossa, G. Georgiev, P.T. Greenless, R. Grzywacz, L.J. Harkness-Brennan, R. Heinke, M. Huyse, P. Ibañez, K. Johnston, P.M. Jones, D.S. Judson, J. Konki, A. Korgul, U. Köster, J. Kurcewicz, M. Labiche, I. Lazarus, R. Lică, M. Llanos-Expósito, M. Madurga, N. Marginean, R. Marginean, B.A. Marsh, C. Mihai, R.E. Mihai, J.R. Murias, E. Nácher, C. Neacsu, A. Negret, V.M. Nouvilas, J. Ojala, J.N. Orce, C.A.A. Page, R.D. Page, J. Pakarinen, J. Papadakis, S. Pascu, A. Perea, M. Piersa-Siłkowska, A.M. Plaza, Zs. Podolyák, W. Poklepa, V. Pucknell, P. Rahkila, C. Raison, E. Rapisarda, K. Rezynkina, F. Rotaru, K. Schomacker, M. Siciliano, C. Sotty, M. Stryjczyk, O. Tengblad, J.M. Udías, V. Vedia, S. Viñals, R. Wadsworth, N. Warr, H. De Witte, D. Yates, Z. Yue

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

Near the doubly-magic nucleus 78Ni (Z=28, N=50), there has been a decades-long debate on the existence of a long-lived isomer in 76Cu. A recent mass measurement claimed to have settled the debate, by measuring the energy of the isomer and shedding light on the structure of the nucleus. In this work, we present new, more accurate, and precise values of the half-lives of the isomeric and ground states in 76Cu. Our findings suggest that both states have very similar half-lives, in the 600–700 ms range, in disagreement with the literature values, implying that they cannot be differentiated by their decay curves. These results raise more questions than they answer, reopening the debate and showing that the structures in 76Cu are still not fully understood.

Original language	English
Article number	139551
Number of pages	8
Journal	Physics Letters B
Volume	866
Early online date	15 May 2025
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.physletb.2025.139551
Publication status	Published - Jul 2025

Keywords

Cu
Zn
decay
Isomer

Access to Document

10.1016/j.physletb.2025.139551Licence: CC BY

1-s2.0-S0370269325003120-main
© 2025 The Author(s).
Final published version, 1.35 MBLicence: CC BY

Nuclear Physics Consolidated Grant 2024-2027
Jenkins, D. (Principal investigator), Andreyev, A. (Co-investigator), Bashkanov, M. (Co-investigator), Bentley, M. (Co-investigator), Diget, C. A. (Co-investigator), Dobaczewski, J. J. (Co-investigator), Laird, A. M. (Co-investigator), Paschalis, S. (Co-investigator), Petri, M. (Co-investigator), Wadsworth, R. (Co-investigator), Watts, D. (Co-investigator) & Zachariou, N. (Co-investigator)
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY FACILITIES COUNCIL (STFC)
1/10/24 → 30/09/27
Project: Research project (funded) › Research

Cite this

Olaizola, B., Illana, A., Benito, J., Suárez-Bustamante, D. P., Piccolo, G. D., Algora, A., Andel, B., Andreyev, A. N., Araszkiewicz, M., Ayyad, Y., Bark, R. A., Berry, T., Borge, M. J. G., Chrysalidis, K., Cocolios, T. E., Costache, C., Cubiss, J. G., Duppen, P. V., Favier, Z., ... Yue, Z. (2025). The⁷⁶Cu conundrum remains unsolved. Physics Letters B, 866, Article 139551. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.physletb.2025.139551

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title = "The 76Cu conundrum remains unsolved",

abstract = "Near the doubly-magic nucleus 78Ni (Z=28, N=50), there has been a decades-long debate on the existence of a long-lived isomer in 76Cu. A recent mass measurement claimed to have settled the debate, by measuring the energy of the isomer and shedding light on the structure of the nucleus. In this work, we present new, more accurate, and precise values of the half-lives of the isomeric and ground states in 76Cu. Our findings suggest that both states have very similar half-lives, in the 600–700 ms range, in disagreement with the literature values, implying that they cannot be differentiated by their decay curves. These results raise more questions than they answer, reopening the debate and showing that the structures in 76Cu are still not fully understood.",

keywords = "Cu, Zn, decay, Isomer",

author = "B. Olaizola and A. Illana and J. Benito and D.P. Su{\'a}rez-Bustamante and Piccolo, {G. Del} and A. Algora and B. Andel and A.N. Andreyev and M. Araszkiewicz and Y. Ayyad and R.A. Bark and T. Berry and M.J.G. Borge and K. Chrysalidis and T.E. Cocolios and C. Costache and J.G. Cubiss and Duppen, {P. Van} and Z. Favier and L.M. Fraile and H.O.U. Fynbo and F. Galtarossa and G. Georgiev and P.T. Greenless and R. Grzywacz and L.J. Harkness-Brennan and R. Heinke and M. Huyse and P. Iba{\~n}ez and K. Johnston and P.M. Jones and D.S. Judson and J. Konki and A. Korgul and U. K{\"o}ster and J. Kurcewicz and M. Labiche and I. Lazarus and R. Lic{\u a} and M. Llanos-Exp{\'o}sito and M. Madurga and N. Marginean and R. Marginean and B.A. Marsh and C. Mihai and R.E. Mihai and J.R. Murias and E. N{\'a}cher and C. Neacsu and A. Negret and V.M. Nouvilas and J. Ojala and J.N. Orce and C.A.A. Page and R.D. Page and J. Pakarinen and J. Papadakis and S. Pascu and A. Perea and M. Piersa-Si{\l}kowska and A.M. Plaza and Zs. Podoly{\'a}k and W. Poklepa and V. Pucknell and P. Rahkila and C. Raison and E. Rapisarda and K. Rezynkina and F. Rotaru and K. Schomacker and M. Siciliano and C. Sotty and M. Stryjczyk and O. Tengblad and J.M. Ud{\'i}as and V. Vedia and S. Vi{\~n}als and R. Wadsworth and N. Warr and Witte, {H. De} and D. Yates and Z. Yue",

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journal = "Physics Letters B",

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Olaizola, B, Illana, A, Benito, J, Suárez-Bustamante, DP, Piccolo, GD, Algora, A, Andel, B, Andreyev, AN, Araszkiewicz, M, Ayyad, Y, Bark, RA, Berry, T, Borge, MJG, Chrysalidis, K, Cocolios, TE, Costache, C, Cubiss, JG, Duppen, PV, Favier, Z, Fraile, LM, Fynbo, HOU, Galtarossa, F, Georgiev, G, Greenless, PT, Grzywacz, R, Harkness-Brennan, LJ, Heinke, R, Huyse, M, Ibañez, P, Johnston, K, Jones, PM, Judson, DS, Konki, J, Korgul, A, Köster, U, Kurcewicz, J, Labiche, M, Lazarus, I, Lică, R, Llanos-Expósito, M, Madurga, M, Marginean, N, Marginean, R, Marsh, BA, Mihai, C, Mihai, RE, Murias, JR, Nácher, E, Neacsu, C, Negret, A, Nouvilas, VM, Ojala, J, Orce, JN, Page, CAA, Page, RD, Pakarinen, J, Papadakis, J, Pascu, S, Perea, A, Piersa-Siłkowska, M, Plaza, AM, Podolyák, Z, Poklepa, W, Pucknell, V, Rahkila, P, Raison, C, Rapisarda, E, Rezynkina, K, Rotaru, F, Schomacker, K, Siciliano, M, Sotty, C, Stryjczyk, M, Tengblad, O, Udías, JM, Vedia, V, Viñals, S, Wadsworth, R, Warr, N, Witte, HD, Yates, D & Yue, Z 2025, 'The⁷⁶Cu conundrum remains unsolved', Physics Letters B, vol. 866, 139551. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.physletb.2025.139551

TY - JOUR

T1 - The 76Cu conundrum remains unsolved

AU - Olaizola, B.

AU - Illana, A.

AU - Benito, J.

AU - Suárez-Bustamante, D.P.

AU - Piccolo, G. Del

AU - Algora, A.

AU - Andel, B.

AU - Andreyev, A.N.

AU - Araszkiewicz, M.

AU - Ayyad, Y.

AU - Bark, R.A.

AU - Berry, T.

AU - Borge, M.J.G.

AU - Chrysalidis, K.

AU - Cocolios, T.E.

AU - Costache, C.

AU - Cubiss, J.G.

AU - Duppen, P. Van

AU - Favier, Z.

AU - Fraile, L.M.

AU - Fynbo, H.O.U.

AU - Galtarossa, F.

AU - Georgiev, G.

AU - Greenless, P.T.

AU - Grzywacz, R.

AU - Harkness-Brennan, L.J.

AU - Heinke, R.

AU - Huyse, M.

AU - Ibañez, P.

AU - Johnston, K.

AU - Jones, P.M.

AU - Judson, D.S.

AU - Konki, J.

AU - Korgul, A.

AU - Köster, U.

AU - Kurcewicz, J.

AU - Labiche, M.

AU - Lazarus, I.

AU - Lică, R.

AU - Llanos-Expósito, M.

AU - Madurga, M.

AU - Marginean, N.

AU - Marginean, R.

AU - Marsh, B.A.

AU - Mihai, C.

AU - Mihai, R.E.

AU - Murias, J.R.

AU - Nácher, E.

AU - Neacsu, C.

AU - Negret, A.

AU - Nouvilas, V.M.

AU - Ojala, J.

AU - Orce, J.N.

AU - Page, C.A.A.

AU - Page, R.D.

AU - Pakarinen, J.

AU - Papadakis, J.

AU - Pascu, S.

AU - Perea, A.

AU - Piersa-Siłkowska, M.

AU - Plaza, A.M.

AU - Podolyák, Zs.

AU - Poklepa, W.

AU - Pucknell, V.

AU - Rahkila, P.

AU - Raison, C.

AU - Rapisarda, E.

AU - Rezynkina, K.

AU - Rotaru, F.

AU - Schomacker, K.

AU - Siciliano, M.

AU - Sotty, C.

AU - Stryjczyk, M.

AU - Tengblad, O.

AU - Udías, J.M.

AU - Vedia, V.

AU - Viñals, S.

AU - Wadsworth, R.

AU - Warr, N.

AU - Witte, H. De

AU - Yates, D.

AU - Yue, Z.

PY - 2025/7

Y1 - 2025/7

N2 - Near the doubly-magic nucleus 78Ni (Z=28, N=50), there has been a decades-long debate on the existence of a long-lived isomer in 76Cu. A recent mass measurement claimed to have settled the debate, by measuring the energy of the isomer and shedding light on the structure of the nucleus. In this work, we present new, more accurate, and precise values of the half-lives of the isomeric and ground states in 76Cu. Our findings suggest that both states have very similar half-lives, in the 600–700 ms range, in disagreement with the literature values, implying that they cannot be differentiated by their decay curves. These results raise more questions than they answer, reopening the debate and showing that the structures in 76Cu are still not fully understood.

AB - Near the doubly-magic nucleus 78Ni (Z=28, N=50), there has been a decades-long debate on the existence of a long-lived isomer in 76Cu. A recent mass measurement claimed to have settled the debate, by measuring the energy of the isomer and shedding light on the structure of the nucleus. In this work, we present new, more accurate, and precise values of the half-lives of the isomeric and ground states in 76Cu. Our findings suggest that both states have very similar half-lives, in the 600–700 ms range, in disagreement with the literature values, implying that they cannot be differentiated by their decay curves. These results raise more questions than they answer, reopening the debate and showing that the structures in 76Cu are still not fully understood.

KW - Cu

KW - Zn

KW - decay

KW - Isomer

U2 - 10.1016/j.physletb.2025.139551

DO - 10.1016/j.physletb.2025.139551

M3 - Article

SN - 0370-2693

VL - 866

JO - Physics Letters B

JF - Physics Letters B

M1 - 139551

ER -