The periodicity of nuclear magnetic moments and nucleon binding energies in light nuclides: Implications for nuclear structure

The atomic nucleus contains protons and neutrons surrounded by a structured electron cloud. Some combinations of protons and neutrons induce the nucleus to behave like a microscopic magnet, possessing a unique magnitude and orientation known as the nuclear magnetic moment (µ). When the numbers of protons and neutrons are both even then µ=0, but otherwise each nuclide nuclear magnetic moment is unique. A second unique nuclear physical property relates to the nucleon binding energy (BE), which can be thought of as the energy between protons and neutrons bound within the nucleus. The sequence of stable nuclides increases one nucleon at a time through 36Ar. The binding energy associated with the addition of each successive nucleon (∆BE) through this progression is unique. The hypothesis here is that the unique non-zero magnetic moment and ∆ binding energy of each nuclide derive from its respective microscopic nuclear structure, analogous to the way that the atomic physical properties of an element ultimately derive from its unique electron orbital structure. By extension, the identification of nuclear periodic patterns might eventually inform a theory of nuclear structure. The light, stable nuclides through 36Ar were arranged in ascending order according to atomic mass, and their nuclear magnetic moments and binding energies were evaluated for periodic patterns. Fixed-period lengths from 4 through 18 nuclides per period were considered. These fixed periods, each of equal length, were stacked one upon the other and analyzed for vertical trends. The best evidence of periodicity in both µ and ∆BE converges precisely at the fixed 12-nuclide period. Implications for nuclear structure are discussed.