Understanding the Shell Model in Nuclear Physics

[RESolo]

Hi

Just a quick question that I have been wondering about ... how do nucleons fill energy levels, and what is the maximum number of nucleons that can occupy each level?

The given pattern is:

1s, 1p, 1d, 2s, 1f, 2p, 1g, etc

I can see no obvious pattern here. Can anyone explain? I think I may be missing some kind of fundamental point!

Thanks

 

[K^2]

There is no simple pattern. Number of particles per shell is the same as in electron orbitals, though. You can have two protons and two neutrons in s orbitals, six of each in p, and so on. This is true for any kind of fermion in any central potential.