COSMOS MAGAZINE
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Science has known about atoms for about 200 years when English chemist John Daltan developed the modern theory of atoms.
In fact, the concept of atoms is much older – dating to the ancient Greek philosopher Democritus in around 400 BCE.
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Now physicists at the University of Queensland (UQ) in Australia have found a way to use muonic atoms to better understand the magnetic structure of the nucleus.
Muonic atoms are a type of "exotic atom" where electrons are replaced by muons — particles that are like electrons but 207 times heavier.
What are Muonic atoms?
Because muons orbit much closer to the nucleus than electrons, they provide a more detailed look at nuclear structure, helping physicists understand fundamental atomic properties.
Why do they matter?
A University of Queensland study found that the effect of nuclear polarisation on muonic atoms is much smaller than previously thought.
New research breakthrough
This means past concerns about distortions in data may not be as significant.
With a clearer understanding of muonic atoms, researchers can now conduct more precise experiments to explore nuclear physics and fundamental forces in the universe.
What this means for science