CERN Courier Sep/Oct 2020

The nuclear landscape, showing mass excess (vertical) versus  Z, N and decay mode (colour). 3
The nuclear landscape, showing mass excess (vertical) versus Z, N and decay mode (colour) (Image: CERN)

Welcome to the digital edition of the September/October 2020 issue of CERN Courier.

This issue’s cover feature (p36) describes recent results from CERN’s ISOLDE facility, where researchers are probing the extremities of the nuclear landscape to complete our understanding of the nuclear interaction. Advanced laser and trapping techniques developed over many years at ISOLDE are also bringing new ways to test physics beyond the Standard Model.

This autumn CERN launches its quantum technology initiative (p47) – part of a fast-growing interdisciplinary effort taking place worldwide to develop quantum computing, communication, sensing and other devices that promise to underpin a “second quantum revolution” (p49).

Sticking with CERN science, we report on new tetraquark discoveries by LHCb (p25), NA62’s evidence for an ultra-rare kaon decay (p9), the first signs of Higgs–muon coupling (p7), and how the Higgs boson has so far delivered three fundamental discoveries (p41). Also, don’t miss our special feature on careers from the CERN Alumni Network (p56).

Elsewhere in this issue: the European Spallation Source nears completion (p29); neutrinos prove rare solar-fusion process (p11); how particles attract Nobel prizes (p70); reports from ICHEP and Neutrino 2020 (p19); news in brief (p13); reviews (p53), and more.

j CERN Courier Sep/Oct 2020