Physicists propose new model to study pairing properties of nuclei

A team of Ohio University nuclear physicists has proposed a new theoretical model for calculating pairing properties of atomic nuclei including those found in extreme astrophysical environments. As in some solids in which two interacting electrons pair up to act as one object that leads to superconductivity, interacting neutrons (or protons) in nuclei pair up to cause superfluidity (or superconductivity) in nuclei.