Thursday 18 September 2025
Physicists have made a significant breakthrough in calculating the electric quadrupole moment of a type of calcium atom, which is crucial for understanding nuclear reactions and the structure of atomic nuclei.
The electric quadrupole moment is a fundamental property of atoms that describes how their charge distribution deviates from being spherical. This property plays a vital role in determining the behavior of atoms in various physical systems, such as molecules, solids, and even the nucleus itself.
In this study, researchers employed a hybrid method that combines two established approaches to calculate the electric quadrupole moment of calcium-43 (43Ca). This atom is of particular interest because its nuclear quadrupole moment has been measured with varying degrees of accuracy in previous experiments. The new calculation aims to provide a more precise reference value for this property.
The researchers used a sophisticated computational approach that integrates the advantages of two methods: configuration interaction and coupled-cluster theory. By combining these approaches, they were able to account for various electron correlation effects that are crucial for accurately calculating the electric quadrupole moment.
To validate their calculation, the team compared their results with experimental values of the electric quadrupole hyperfine structure constants of three specific states in 43Ca. These constants are related to the nuclear quadrupole moment and can be measured experimentally.
The calculated value of the nuclear quadrupole moment is -0.0479(6) b, which is significantly more accurate than previous estimates. This new reference value has important implications for understanding the behavior of atoms in various physical systems, particularly those involving nuclear reactions and the structure of atomic nuclei.
For instance, the electric quadrupole moment plays a crucial role in determining the spin-lattice relaxation time in molecular dynamics simulations. It also affects the motion of atomic tunneling systems in amorphous solids.
The researchers believe that their calculation provides a reliable reference value for 43Ca, which can be used to verify and improve existing measurements of the nuclear quadrupole moment. This achievement is an important step towards a deeper understanding of the fundamental properties of atoms and their role in shaping our universe.
In the future, this research may have far-reaching implications for fields such as materials science, chemistry, and astrophysics, where accurate calculations of atomic properties are essential for advancing our knowledge and developing new technologies.
Cite this article: “Precision Calculation of Calcium-43’s Electric Quadrupole Moment”, The Science Archive, 2025.
Calcium, Electric Quadrupole Moment, Nuclear Reactions, Atomic Nuclei, Configuration Interaction, Coupled-Cluster Theory, Electron Correlation, Hyperfine Structure, Molecular Dynamics, Materials Science
