China’s newest heavy-ion research facility has made its first major scientific discovery by observing the rare isotope hafnium-153. The achievement was made by researchers at the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) using the High Intensity Heavy-Ion Accelerator Facility (HIAF). The finding helps scientists better understand the limits of atomic nuclei and nuclear stability.
The discovery was made by the Institute of Modern Physics (IMP), Chinese Academy of Sciences, together with research partners. Their study was published in Science Bulletin. According to CAS, this is the first physics result produced during HIAF’s commissioning phase, showing the new facility is ready for advanced nuclear research.
Scientists study rare isotopes to learn how atomic nuclei are formed and where the limits of stable matter lie. Hafnium-153 is especially difficult to produce because it exists for only a very short time. Observing it gives researchers valuable data to test nuclear physics theories and improve models of atomic structure.
Researchers created and detected 10 hafnium-153 ions using HIAF. Their measurements suggest that the isotope is bound or weakly bound, matching predictions from existing nuclear mass models. According to CAS, the accelerator can produce thousands of unstable atomic nuclei by accelerating ions ranging from hydrogen to uranium.
The discovery also highlights the capabilities of HIAF, which is located in Huizhou, Guangdong Province. The facility will support research in nuclear physics, nuclear astrophysics, and atomic physics. Beyond basic science, it could also contribute to healthcare, materials science, and biological breeding through advanced heavy-ion beam applications.
The research is still at an early stage. Scientists detected only a small number of hafnium-153 ions because the isotope is extremely rare and difficult to produce. More experiments will be needed to study its properties in greater detail and search for additional unknown isotopes.
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The main breakthrough is the first successful observation of the rare hafnium-153 isotope using China’s new HIAF accelerator. As beam intensity and experimental performance improve, researchers expect the facility to discover more rare isotopes and deepen our understanding of how atomic nuclei behave under extreme conditions. CAS says HIAF will also operate as an international scientific user facility for researchers from around the world.
