Nd146

Nd-146, or neodymium-146, is an isotope of the element neodymium (atomic number 60) with a mass number of 146. It consists of 60 protons and 86 neutrons. It is one of the rarer isotopes found in natural neodymium samples, and its natural abundance is not well constrained in widely available data tables, typically being considered negligible for practical purposes.

The decay properties of Nd-146 are not widely documented in standard references, and its stability is a subject of experimental investigation. In nuclear physics, Nd-146 is of interest for studies of neutron-rich heavy nuclei, nuclear structure near the N=86 region, and calibrations in mass spectrometry. It can be produced in laboratory settings through neutron capture or spallation reactions on heavier lanthanides or fission fragments, as well as in astrophysical sites where slow and rapid neutron capture processes contribute to nucleosynthesis.

Measurements and analyses of Nd-146 contribute to refining models of nuclear masses, shell effects, and isotopic abundances in the lanthanide region. Because Nd-146 is not among the key isotopes used in geochronology or industry, it has limited everyday practical applications. Research into this isotope helps improve understanding of nuclear structure and the processes that shape the distribution of heavy elements in nature.