Neutron-rich argon nuclei

It is shown that the (πd_3/2)⁻²(νf_7/2,νp_3/2)ⁿ model previously used to interpret the data on the lighter argon nuclei can be used to understand the recently observed results in ₁₈⁴³Ar₂₅ and ₁₈⁴⁴Ar₂₆. The first excited state of ₁₈⁴⁴Ar₂₆ is predicted to be a core-excited 0⁺ level arising from the configuration ${\left[{{\left(d_{\frac{3}{2}}\right)}^{-4}}_{00}\times {{\left(f_{\frac{7}{2}}\right)}^8}_{04}\right]}_{J=0,T=4}$.[NUCLEAR STRUCTURE shell model, d_3/2 protons f_7/2-p_3/2 neutrons; ⁴³Ar calculated levels, J; ⁴³Ar, ⁴⁴Ar, ⁴⁵Ar, ⁴⁶Ar calculated binding energies.]