Although prompt (i.e. not beta-delayed) proton emission was observed from an isomer in Cobalt-53 as early as 1969, no other proton-emitting states were found until 1981, when the proton radioactive ground states of Lutetium-151 and Thulium-147 were observed at experiments at the GSI in West Germany. Research in the field flourished after this breakthrough, and to date more than 25 isotopes have been found to exhibit proton emission. The study of proton emission has aided the understanding of nuclear deformation, masses and structure, and it is a wonderfully pure example of quantum tunneling.
In 2002, the simultaneous emission of two protons was observed from the nucleus Iron-45 in experiments at GSI and GANIL (Grand Accelerateur National d'Ions Lourds, near Caen). In 2005 it was experimentally determined (at the same facility) that Zinc-54 can also undergo double proton decay.
See also
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Last updated on Tuesday May 20, 2008 at 10:58:02 PDT (GMT -0700)
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