Some nuclei exist close to a quantum phase transition

Physicists in Germany and the US have discovered that certain nuclei exist close to a quantum phase transition, which dictates whether a nucleus resembles a loose collection of alpha particles or looks more like a single tightly bound object. The team found that whether a nucleus is on one side or the other of this phase divide is very sensitive to the specific interactions between individual protons and neutrons. The physicists say that their work could improve the understanding of heavy-element production inside stars.