Scientists believe they are one small step closer to understanding the origins of mankind after confirming last week the presence of a rare germanium isotope generated during early May experiments.
The trials at MSU's National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory yielded three examples of a new atom, tagged germanium-60. The discovery is the first of its kind in three years.
Data derived from the experiment might aid the development of theories that explain ancient nuclear supernova explosions.
A supernova occurs at the end of a star's lifetime and theoretically produces isotopes like germanium-60, an unstable atom. These atoms - unlikely combinations of an atom's basic electron, proton and neutron components - eventually stabilize and are thought to compose almost all earthly chemical elements, including those found in humans.
"It's a major step in pushing the limits of stability in terms of which nuclei can exist," said physics and astronomy professor Mike Thoennessen, associate director of nuclear science at the Cyclotron. "We're pushing the limits further and further."
Besides, said Richard York, associate director for accelerators at the Cyclotron, it bumps up MSU's stance in competition with Chicago-based Argonne National Laboratory for the $1 billion Rare Isotope Accelerator. The machine would be able to break rare isotopes, such as germanium-60, into pieces not found anywhere else in the universe.
"This is the kind of research that's front and center for the Rare Isotope Accelerator," he said. "To demonstrate the capability here of something that will be one of the pieces of the rare accelerator program is not a disadvantage."
To create the isotope, scientists accelerated ions of krypton gas to about half the speed of light - about 92,000 miles per second - and directed them through a one-eighth inch block of beryllium.
When a nuclei of the krypton collided with the beryllium nuclei, it created trillions of different nucleic combinations by removing various numbers of protons and neutrons from the krypton atoms. An atom's nucleus is composed of protons and neutrons.
However, only when exactly four protons and 14 neutrons were taken away from a krypton nuclei could a germanium-60 be produced. In the end, about one in 10 trillion different nuclei created met that specification.
"To rip off that particular combination is extremely unlikely," said Aaron Galonsky, physics and astronomy professor emeritus and scientist at the Cyclotron. "Once in a blue moon, a germanium-60 can be produced. It's an unlikely process."
