Charge, neutron, and weak size of the atomic nucleus

Understand

What is the size of the atomic nucleus? This deceivably simple question is difficult to answer.

• While the electric charge distributions in atomic nuclei were measured accurately already half a century ago, our knowledge of the distribution of neutrons is still deficient.
• In addition to constraining the size of atomic nuclei, the neutron distribution also impacts the number of nuclei that can exist and the size of neutron stars.
• We present an ab initio calculation of the neutron distribution of the neutron-rich nucleus $^{48}$Ca.